al-Zāhirī, because they thought this was the apparent meaning of the Quran. Moreover, the wording of the verse concerning fay’ resembles that of the verse concerning the one-fifth share. Some therefore held that all fay’ must likewise be allocated as the one-fifth share is, among these five categories. This is the position of Dāwūd ibn ʿAlī and his followers, and I know of no Muslim before him who held this position.

This is a position that would lead to the ruin of Islam if all fay’ were distributed among these categories. Such people sometimes speak according to what they imagine to be the apparent wording, without considering the consequences of their position.

Others held that Allah’s words in the verse concerning fay’:

“belongs to Allah and the Messenger and close relatives”

[Surah al-Hashr: 7]

refer to one-fifth of the fay’. They therefore held that fay’ is divided into fifths. This is the position of al-Shāfiʿī and those of Ahmad’s companions who agreed with him.

The majority replied:

“This is exceedingly weak, for Allah said:

‘belongs to Allah and the Messenger and close relatives, orphans, the needy, and the stranded traveler’

[Surah al-Hashr: 7]

He did not say, ‘One-fifth of it belongs to these people.’ He then said:

‘For the poor emigrants who were driven from their homes and deprived of their possessions’

[Surah al-Hashr: 8]

‘And those who had settled in the Home and embraced the faith before them’

[Surah al-Hashr: 9]

‘And those who came after them’

[Surah al-Hashr: 10]

These are the people entitled to all the fay’. How, then, can it be claimed that what is meant is one-fifth of it?”

It is authentically established that when ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—recited this verse, he said:

“This encompasses all the Muslims.”

As for Abū Hanīfa and those who agreed with him, they concurred that the one-fifth share is due to these people. They said, however, that the Messenger was entitled to his share during his lifetime, while his close relatives were entitled to theirs because they supported him. This entitlement ceased with his death, so their share lapsed just as his share did.