and He explained how fay’ was to be allocated, saying:

“Whatever Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns belongs to Allah, the Messenger, his close relatives, orphans, the needy, and the stranded traveller, so that it does not circulate solely among the wealthy among you. Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in punishment.”

“For the poor emigrants who were driven from their homes and their wealth, seeking Allah’s bounty and pleasure and supporting Allah and His Messenger. It is they who are truly sincere.”

“And those who had already settled in the city and embraced the faith before them love those who emigrated to them, harbour no envy in their hearts for what the emigrants were given, and give them preference over themselves, even though they themselves are in need. Whoever is protected from the stinginess of his own soul—it is they who will be successful.”

“And those who came after them say, ‘Our Lord, forgive us and our brothers who preceded us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancour towards those who believe. Our Lord, You are indeed Most Kind, Most Merciful.’”

These are the Emigrants, the Helpers, and those who come after them until the Day of Resurrection. For this reason, Mālik, Abū ‘Ubayd, Abū Hakīm al-Nahrawānī—one of Ahmad’s followers—and others said that anyone who reviles the Companions has no share in fay’.

Fay’ also includes the levy that ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, imposed on lands he conquered by force but did not distribute, such as the lands of Egypt and Iraq—except for a small portion—the Syrian mainland, and elsewhere.

According to the vast majority of imams, such as Abū Hanīfa, Mālik, and Ahmad, no fifth is to be set aside from this fay’. Setting aside a fifth of it is advocated only by al-Shāfi‘ī and some