his wealth; rather, he took only the prescribed alms from them and would say, “Muhammad’s family has no share in it.” He commanded them to strive with their wealth and their lives. He—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—would distribute what Allah had restored to the Muslims: he distributed the spoils among those entitled to them and distributed the one-fifth share and the fay’.

These are the communal public funds whose distribution the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his caliphs administered (1). Scholars have authored independent works devoted to them and also treated them together in other works, discussing the distribution of spoils, fay’, and alms.

As for the issues over which the scholars disagreed, their disagreement had a recognized basis. They differed concerning the one-fifth share because Allah Most High says in the Quran:

“Know that one-fifth of whatever spoils you acquire belongs to Allah, the Messenger, his near relatives, the orphans, the needy, and the stranded traveler—if you truly believe in Allah and in what We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Criterion, the day the two armies met. And Allah has power over all things.”

[Surah al-Anfāl: 41]

Regarding fay’, He says:

“Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns belongs to Allah, the Messenger, his near relatives, the orphans, the needy, and the stranded traveler, so that it does not circulate solely among the rich among you.”

[Surah al-Hashr: 7]

Before that, He says:

“Whatever Allah restored to His Messenger from them, you did not spur on any horses or camels to obtain it; rather, Allah gives His messengers authority over whomever He wills.”

[Surah al-Hashr: 6]

The root meaning of fay’ is return. Allah created all creatures to worship Him and gave them wealth to assist them in worshipping Him. When the disbelievers disbelieved in Allah and worshipped others besides Him, they were no longer