Surah Al-Anfal 8:41

Ruling on the Spoils of War (Ghanimah and Fai )

Allah explains the spoils of war in detail, as He has specifically allowed it for this honorable Ummah over all others. We should mention that the `Ghanimah' refers to war spoils captured from the disbelievers, using armies and instruments of war. As for `Fai', it refers to the property of the disbelievers that they forfeit in return for peace, what they leave behind when they die and have no one to inherit from them, and the Jizyah (tribute tax) and Khiraj (property tax). Allah said,

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَأَنَّ للَّهِ خُمُسَهُ

(And know that whatever of war booty that you may gain, verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah) indicating that the one-fifth should be reserved and paid in full to Muslim leaders whether it was little or substantial, even a yarn and needle.

وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لاَ يُظْلَمُونَ

(And whosoever deceives (his companions over the booty), he shall bring forth on the Day of Resurrection that which he took (illegally). Then every person shall be paid in full what he has earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly.) 3:161

Allah's statement,

فَأَنَّ للَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ

(verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger, ) was explained by Ibn `Abbas, as Ad-Dahhak reported from him, "Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent an army, he used to divide the war booty they collected into five shares, reserving one-fifth and divided it into five shares." Then he recited;

وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَأَنَّ للَّهِ خُمُسَهُ وَلِلرَّسُولِ

(And know that whatever of war booty that you may gain, verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah, and to the Messenger,)

Ibn Abbas said, "Allah's statement,

فَأَنَّ للَّهِ خُمُسَهُ

(verily, one-fifth of it is assigned to Allah) is inclusive of the Messenger's share, just as the following Ayah is inclusive of Allah owning whatever is on the earth also,

لِّلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَـوتِ وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth)2:284." So He addressed the share of Allah and the share of His Messenger in the same statement.

Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Al-Hasan bin Muhammad bin Al-Hanifiyyah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ash-Sha`bi, `Ata' bin Abi Rabah, `Abdullah bin Buraydah, Qatadah, Mughirah and several others, all said that the share designated for Allah and the Messenger is one and the same. Supporting this is what Imam Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded, with a Sahih chain of narrators, that `Abdullah bin Shaqiq said that a man from Bilqin said, "I came to the Prophet when he was in Wadi Al-Qura inspecting a horse. I asked, `O Allah's Messenger! What about the Ghanimah' He said,

«للهِ خُمُسُهَا وَأَرْبَعَةُ أَخْمَاسِهَا لِلْجَيْش»

(Allah's share is one fifth and four-fifths are for the army.)

I asked, `None of them has more right to it than anyone else' He said,

«لَا، وَلَا السَّهْمُ تَسْتَخْرِجُهُ مِنْ جَنْبِكَ لَيْسَ أَنْتَ أَحَقَّ بِهِ مِنْ أَخِيكَ الْمُسْلِم»

(No. Even if you remove an arrow that pierced your flank, you have no more right to it than your Muslim brother.)"

Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Miqdam bin Ma`dikarib Al-Kindi sat with `Ubadah bin As-Samit, Abu Ad-Darda' and Al-Harith bin Mu`awiyah Al-Kindi, may Allah be pleased with them, reminding each other of the statements of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Abu Ad-Darda' said to `Ubadah, "O `Ubadah! What about the words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ during such and such battle, about the fifth (of the war booty)" `Ubadah said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ led them in prayer, facing a camel from the war booty. When he finished the prayer, he stood up, held pelt of a camel between his fingers and said,

«إِنَّ هَذِهِ مِنْ غَنَائِمِكُمْ وَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي فِيهَا إِلَّا نَصِيبِي مَعَكُمْ إِلَّا الْخُمُسُ، وَالْخُمُسُ مَرْدُودٌ عَلَيْكُمْ، فَأَدُّوا الْخَيْطَ وَالْمَخِيطَ، وَأَكْبَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَأَصْغَرَ، وَلَا تَغُلُّوا فَإِنَّ الْغُلُولَ نَارٌ وَعَارٌ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ، وَجَاهِدُوا النَّاسَ فِي اللهِ الْقَرِيبَ وَالْبَعِيدَ، وَلَا تُبَالُوا فِي اللهِ لَوْمَةَ لَائِمٍ، وَأَقِيمُوا حُدُودَ اللهِ فِي الْحَضَرِ وَالسَّفَرِ، وَجَاهِدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ، فَإِنَّ الْجِهَادَ بَابٌ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْجَنَّةِ عَظِيمٌ، يُنْجِي بِهِ اللهُ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْغَم»

(This is also a part of the war booty you earned. Verily, I have no share in it, except my own share, the fifth designated to me. Even that fifth will be given to you (indicating the Prophet's generosity). Therefore, surrender even the needle and the thread, and whatever is bigger or smaller than that (from the war spoils). Do not cheat with any of it, for stealing from the war booty before its distribution is Fire and a shame on its people in this life and the Hereafter. Perform Jihad against the people in Allah's cause, whether they are near or far, and do not fear the blame of the blamers, as long as you are in Allah's cause. Establish Allah's rules while in your area and while traveling. Perform Jihad in Allah's cause, for Jihad is a tremendous door leading to Paradise. Through it, Allah saves (one) from sadness and grief.)"

This is a tremendous Hadith, but I did not find it in any of the six collections of Hadith through this chain of narration. However, Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i recorded a Hadith from `Amr bin Shu`ayb, from his father, from his grandfather `Abdullah bin `Amr, from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and this narration is similar to the one above, and a version from `Amr bin `Anbasah was recorded by Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i. The Prophet used to choose some types of the war booty for himself; a servant, a horse, or a sword, according to the reports from Muhammad bin Sirin, `Amir Ash-Sha`bi and many scholars. For instance, Imam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi -- who graded it Hasan -- recorded from Ibn `Abbas that the Messenger ﷺ of Allah chose a sword called `Dhul-Fiqar' on the day of Badr. `A'ishah narrated that Safiyyah was among the captured women, and the Prophet chose and married her (upon his own choice and before distribution of war booty), as Abu Dawud narrated in the Sunan. As for the share of the Prophet's relatives, it is paid to Bani Hashim and Bani Al-Muttalib, because the children of Al-Muttalib supported Bani Hashim in Jahiliyyah after Islam. They also went to the mountain pass of Abu Talib in support of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and to protect him (when the Quraysh boycotted Muslims for three years). Those who were Muslims (from Bani Al-Muttalib) did all this in obedience to Allah and His Messenger , while the disbelievers among them did so in support of their tribe and in obedience to Abu Talib, the Messenger's uncle.

Allah said next,

وَالْيَتَـمَى

(the orphans), in reference to Muslim orphans,

وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ

(and the wayfarer), the traveler and those who intend to travel for a distance during which shortening the prayer is legislated, but do not have resources to spend from. We will explain this subject in Surah Bara'h 9:60, Allah willing, and our reliance and trust is in Him alone.

Allah said,

إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنْتُم بِاللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا

(If you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our servant)

Allah says, `Adhere to what We legislated for you, such as the ruling about one-fifth of the war spoils, if you truly believe in Allah, the Last Day and what We have revealed to Our Messenger .' In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that `Abdullah bin `Abbas said, - while narrating the lengthy Hadith about the delegation of Bani Abdul Qays - that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to them, s

«وآمُرُكُمْ بِأَرْبَعٍ، وَأَنْهَاكُمْ عَنْ أَرْبَعٍ. آمُرُكُمْ بِالْإِيمَانِ بِاللهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: هَلْ تَدْرُونَ مَا الْإِيمَــانُ بِاللهِ؟ شَهَــــادَةُ أَن لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ، وَإِقَامُ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءُ الزَّكَاةِ، وَأن تُؤَدُّوا الْخُمُسَ مِنَ الْمَغْنَم»

I command you with four and forbid four from you. I command you to believe in Allah. Do you know what it means to believe in Allah Testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving Zakah and honestly surrendering one-fifth of the war spoils.)

Therefore, the Messenger listed surrendering one-fifth of the war booty as part of faith. This is why Al-Bukhari wrote a chapter in his Sahih entitled, "Chapter: Paying the Khumus (one-fifth) is Part of Faith." He then narrated the above Hadith from Ibn `Abbas. Allah said next,

يَوْمَ الْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(on the Day of Criterion, the Day when the two forces met; and Allah is Able to do all things.) Allah is making His favors and compassion towards His creation known, when He distinguished between truth and falsehood in the battle of Badr. That day was called, `Al-Furqan', because Allah raised the word of faith above the word of falsehood, He made His religion apparent and supported His Prophet and his group. `Ali bin Abi Talhah and Al-`Awfi reported that Ibn `Abbas said, "Badr is YawmAl-Furqan; during it, Allah separated between truth and falsehood." Al-Hakim collected this statement. Similar statements were reported from Mujahid, Miqsam, `Ubaydullah bin `Abdullah, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, Muqatil bin Hayyan and several others.

Dalam ayat ini Allah menjelaskan pembagian hasil rampasan perang sesuai dengan syariat Islam. Jumhur ulama berpendapat bahwa ayat ini diturunkan terkait dengan Perang Badar dan merupakan ayat pertama tentang pembagian harta rampasan perang sesudah Perang Badar. Allah menjelaskan bahwa semua ganimah yang diperoleh kaum Muslimin dari orang-orang kafir dalam peperangan, harus diambil seperlimanya untuk Allah dan Rasul, yaitu untuk hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan agama, seperti kemaslahatan seorang dai dalam berdakwah, mendirikan syiar-syiar agama, untuk memelihara Kabah, dan untuk keperluan Rasulullah saw dan rumah tangganya selama satu tahun. Kemudian dari seperlima ini juga harus diberikan pula kepada kerabat-kerabatnya. Dalam hal ini yang dianggap kerabat Rasulullah itu hanya Bani Hasyim dan Bani Muthalib dan tidak kepada Bani Abdi Syams dan Bani Naufal. Kemudian diberikan pula kepada kaum Muslimin yang memerlukan bantuan seperti anak-anak yatim, fakir miskin dan ibnussabil (musafir yang kekurangan biaya).

Empat perlima ganimah dibagikan kepada tentara yang ikut berperang. Diriwayatkan oleh Imam al-Bukhari dari Mutim bin Jubair dari Bani Naufal, dia berkata, "Saya dengan Utsman bin Affan dari kabilah Bani Abdi Syams bersama-sama datang kepada Rasulullah, lalu kami bertanya kepada beliau, "Wahai Rasulullah, engkau telah memberi ganimah kepada kabilah Bani Muthalib dan membiarkan kami tidak dapat bagian, padahal kami dengan mereka sederajat." Rasulullah menjawab, "Sesungguhnya kabilah Bani Muthalib dan Bani Hasyim merupakan satu kesatuan." Jawaban Rasulullah ini adalah sebagai sindiran kepada Bani Syams dan Bani Naufal, bahwa mereka tidak dapat dipersamakan dengan Bani Muthalib dan Bani Hasyim yang selalu berjuang mendampingi Rasulullah dan tidak pernah memusuhinya. Mujahid, seorang ahli tafsir mengatakan bahwa Allah mengetahui, di antara kabilah Bani Hasyim dan Bani Muthalib banyak yang miskin. Karena itu mereka diberi bagian dari ganimah, sebab mereka tidak boleh menerima zakat.

Perbedaan dalam perlakuan di atas harus dikembalikan kepada sejarah, yaitu ketika orang Quraisy menulis sebuah risalah yang menentukan sikap mereka terhadap Nabi Muhammad untuk memboikot sahabat-sahabat Nabi. Maka orang Quraisy mengusir Bani Hasyim dari Mekah dan menempatkan mereka di syiib (lembah) Bani Hasyim, karena mereka selalu melindungi Nabi Muhammad. Kemudian datang pula kabilah Bani Muthalib bergabung dengan mereka, sedang kabilah Abdi Syams dan Bani Naufal tidak bergabung dengan mereka sehingga tidak ikut diboikot oleh orang-orang Quraisy. Abu Sufyan dari keturunan Bani Umaiyah sering pula memerangi Nabi Muhammad bersama-sama kaum musyrikin dan orang Yahudi sampai Mekah dikuasai oleh Nabi Muhammad dan baru ketika itulah Abu Sufyan masuk Islam.

Adapun hikmah dari pembagian ganimah untuk Allah dan Rasul ialah karena pemerintahan Islam dalam mengurus umatnya perlu mempunyai dana untuk dipergunakan bagi kemaslahatan umum, untuk menegakkan syiar-syiar agama dan untuk pertahanan. Semuanya itu diambil dari seperlima untuk Allah. Kemudian untuk kepentingan kepala negara diberikan bagian Rasulullah dan rumah tangganya. Kemudian diberi pula karib kerabatnya yang berdekatan dengan Nabi, yaitu Bani Hasyim dan Bani Muthalib sebagai penghargaan atas dukungan mereka untuk perjuangan Nabi. Kemudian juga kepada orang-orang yang memerlukan bantuan, dan umat Islam yang lemah ekonominya. Cara pembagian ini senantiasa dipraktikkan di sebagian besar negara-negara Islam walaupun ada sedikit perbedaan dalam praktek menghadapi keperluan masyarakat dan rakyatnya. Cara pembagian itu wajib diterima dan dilaksanakan jika kaum Muslimin sungguh-sungguh beriman kepada Allah dan kepada apa yang diturunkan-Nya.

Perang Badar diberi nama yaum al-furqan. Hari furqan ialah hari yang memisahkan antara keimanan dan kekafiran. Kemenangan kaum Muslimin pada Perang Badar adalah kemenangan yang pertama terhadap kaum musyrikin, walaupun jumlah mereka tiga kali lipat banyaknya dari kaum Muslimin, Allah Mahakuasa atas segala sesuatu, kuasa memberi kemenangan kepada kaum Muslimin sesuai dengan janji-Nya. Perang Badar di samping disebut sebagai "yaum al-furqan" juga "yaum iltaqa al-jam'an" yang berarti hari bertemunya dua pasukan, pasukan Muslim di bawah pimpinan Nabi Muhammad saw dan pasukan Quraisy di bawah pimpinan Abu Jahal dan kawan-kawannya.