It is authentically established that he said:

“By Allah, I neither give to anyone nor withhold from anyone. I am only a distributor, placing the wealth where I have been commanded.” (1)

This proves that he gave wealth to those whom Allah commanded him to give it, not to whomever he himself wished. It also proves that the wealth was ascribed to him because he was Allah’s Messenger, not because he owned it.

By contrast, his allotted share of the spoils and whatever was bequeathed to him were his property. Hence, fay’ was called “Allah’s wealth,” meaning wealth that must be spent as Allah and His Messenger commanded—that is, in obedience to Allah. In other words, no one may spend it however he wishes, even on something permissible, unlike privately owned wealth.

This differs from His statement:

“And give them from the wealth of Allah that He has given you.”

[Surah al-Nūr: 33]

Here, He did not ascribe it to the Messenger, but described it as part of what Allah had given them.

They said:

Allah Most High also says:

“And for close relatives, orphans, the needy, and the stranded traveler.”

[Surah al-Hashr: 7]

These groups were singled out for mention out of particular concern for them, not because the wealth was exclusively theirs. Hence, He said:

“So that it may not circulate solely among the rich among you.”

[Surah al-Hashr: 7]

That is, so that you do not pass it among yourselves while depriving the poor. If it were exclusively for the poor, the wealthy would have had no share in it at all, much less could it have circulated among them.

Allah Most High also says:

“Whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, refrain from it.”

[Surah al-Hashr: 7]

This proves that the Messenger was responsible for distributing the fay’ and spoils. Had they been apportioned into fixed shares like the prescribed shares, there would have been no scope for the Messenger to direct or prohibit their distribution.

Moreover, the established hadiths reported from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—and his caliphs support this position. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—never once subdivided a one-fifth share