Volume 4, 57 One-fifth of Booty to the Cause of Allah (Khumus)
Sahih al-Bukhari 3129
Chapter:13 Blessed is the wealth of a living or a dead Ghazi
Narrated Abdullah bin Az-Zubair: When Az-Zubair stood during the battle of Al-Jamal, he called me, and I stood beside him. He said to me, “O my son! Today, one will be killed either as an oppressor or as an oppressed one. I see that I will be killed as an oppressed one. My biggest worry is my debts. Do you think if we pay the debts, there will be anything left for us from our money?” Az-Zubair added, “O my son! Sell our property and pay my debts.” He then willed one-third of his property and willed one-third of that portion to his sons, namely Abdullah’s sons, saying, “One-third of the one-third. If any property is left after paying the debts, one-third (of the remaining one-third) is to be given to your sons.”
(The sub-narrator Hisham added that some of Abdullah’s sons were of similar age to Az-Zubair’s sons, like Khubaib and Abbas. Abdullah had nine sons and nine daughters at that time.)
Abdullah continued: My father (Az-Zubair) kept emphasizing his debts, saying, “If you face difficulty in repaying any part of the debt, seek help from my Master.” By Allah! I did not understand until I asked, “O father, who is your Master?” He replied, “Allah.” By Allah, whenever I struggled with his debts, I would say, “Master of Az-Zubair, settle his debt,” and Allah would help me repay it.
Az-Zubair was martyred without leaving any gold or silver but two plots of land (one called Al-Ghaba) and eleven houses in Medina, two in Basra, one in Kufa, and one in Egypt. The reason for his debt was that when people entrusted money to him, he would refuse to keep it as a trust, saying, “No, I take it as a debt, for I fear it may be lost.” Az-Zubair never held a governorship or tax-collecting role but earned his wealth from war booty during battles alongside the Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman.
Abdullah bin Az-Zubair added: When I calculated his debt, it amounted to two million and two hundred thousand. Hakim bin Hizam met me and asked, “O nephew, how much debt does my brother owe?” I concealed the amount and said, “One hundred thousand.” He said, “By Allah! I doubt your property can cover it.” So I told him the truth: “What if it is two million and two hundred thousand?” Hakim said, “You cannot repay this. If you struggle, seek my help.”
Az-Zubair had bought Al-Ghaba for 170,000, but Abdullah sold it for 1,600,000. He then announced publicly: “Anyone owed by Az-Zubair, come to Al-Ghaba.” Among them was Abdullah bin Ja’far, who was owed 400,000. He offered to forgive the debt, but Abdullah refused. Ibn Ja’far then suggested deferring payment or taking a portion of the land, to which Abdullah agreed, granting him a section.
Later, Abdullah met Muawiya, who asked about Al-Ghaba’s value. Abdullah replied, “Each share is worth 100,000.” Muawiya inquired about remaining shares, and Abdullah said, “Four and a half.” Muawiya and others (Amr bin Uthman, Al-Mundhir bin Az-Zubair, and Ibn Zam’a) each bought shares, leaving one and a half, which Muawiya purchased for 150,000.
After clearing all debts, Az-Zubair’s sons demanded their inheritance, but Abdullah delayed distribution for four years, announcing each Hajj season: “If anyone has a claim on Az-Zubair, come forward.” Finally, he divided the inheritance. Az-Zubair had four wives; each received 1,200,000, and his total wealth amounted to 50,200,000.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3130
Chapter: 14 If the Imam sends a messenger for a duty or orders one to stay, will they receive a share of the booty?
Narrated Ibn Umar: Uthman missed the Battle of Badr because he was married to the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) daughter, who was ill. The Prophet (peace be upon him) told him, “You will have the reward and share (of booty) equal to a Badr participant.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3131, 3132
Chapter:15 Khumus is to be used for the needs of the Muslims
Narrated Marwan bin Al-Hakim and Miswar bin Makhrama: When the Hawazin delegation came to Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) after embracing Islam and requested the return of their properties and captives, he said:
“The most truthful speech is the best in my sight. You may choose one of two options—your captives or your wealth—for I have delayed their distribution.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) had waited for them for over ten days after returning from Ta’if. When they realized he would only grant one of the two, they said, “We choose our captives.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood before the Muslims, praised Allah, and said:
“These brothers of yours have come repentant, and I find it just to return their captives. Whoever willingly releases his share may do so, and whoever prefers to keep his portion may do so—we will compensate him from the next war spoils (Fai’) Allah grants us.”
The people responded, “O Messenger of Allah, we willingly agree!”
He replied, “I cannot distinguish who has consented. Return and let your leaders convey your decision.”
They consulted their leaders, who returned and confirmed:
“All have willingly agreed to release the captives without compensation.”
(This is the account we received regarding the Hawazin captives.)
Sahih al-Bukhari 3133
Narrated Zahdam: We were at Abu Musa’s house when he served a meal containing chicken. A red-complexioned man from Bani Taim Allah (resembling a Byzantine captive) was present. Abu Musa invited him, but the man refused, saying:
“I once saw chickens eating filth and vowed never to eat them.”
Abu Musa said:
“Come, let me tell you something. I once went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) with a group of Al-Ashariyin, asking for mounts. He swore, *‘By Allah, I have nothing to give you.’* Later, war camels were brought to him, and he asked, ‘Where are the Al-Ashariyin?’ He then gave us five white-humped camels.
When we left, we felt uneasy, thinking, ‘We have incurred bad luck!’ We returned and said, ‘You swore not to give us mounts—did you forget?’
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied:
‘I did not give you; Allah did. By Allah, if I swear an oath and later find a better alternative, I will take the better path and atone for my oath.’”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3134
Narrated Nafi’ from Ibn ‘Umar: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) sent an expedition towards Najd, and Abdullah bin ‘Umar was in it. They gained many camels as war booty. Each man’s share was twelve or eleven camels, and they were given one extra camel each.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3135
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) used to give extra shares to some members of the expeditions he sent out, in addition to their regular shares from the army’s booty.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3136
Narrated Abu Musa: When we were in Yemen, we heard about the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) migration, so we set out to join him. I was the youngest of my two brothers – Abu Burda and Abu Ruhm. About fifty-two men from our people traveled with us. We boarded a ship that took us to the Negus in Ethiopia, where we found Ja’far bin Abi Talib and his companions. Ja’far told us: “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) sent us here and ordered us to stay, so stay with us.” We stayed until we all left and met the Prophet (peace be upon him) after he conquered Khaibar. He gave us a share of the booty, though he only gave shares to those who had participated in the battle – except for our ship’s passengers and Ja’far’s companions, whom he included in the distribution.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3137
Narrated Jabir: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said to me, “If the property of Bahrain had come to us, I would have given you so much and so much.” But the Bahrain property did not come till the Prophet (peace be upon him) had died. When the Bahrain property came, Abu Bakr ordered somebody to announce, “Any person who has a money claim on Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), or whom Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) had promised something, should come to us.”
So, I went to him and said, “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) had promised to give me so much and so much.” Abu Bakr scooped up money with both hands thrice for me. (The sub-narrator Sufyan illustrated this action by scooping up with both hands and said that Ibn Munkadir, another sub-narrator, used to illustrate it in this way.)
Jabir added: Once I went to Abu Bakr and asked for the money but he did not give me. I went to him again, but he did not give me. I went to him the third time and said, “I asked you, but you did not give me; then I asked you (for the second time) and you did not give me; then I asked you (for the third time) but you did not give me. You should either give me or allow yourself to be considered a miser regarding my case.”
Abu Bakr said, “You tell me that I am a miser with regard to you. But really, whenever I rejected your request, I had the inclination to give you.” (In another narration Jabir added:) So, Abu Bakr scooped up money with both hands for me and asked me to count it. I found out that it was five hundred. Abu Bakr told me to take twice that amount.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3138
Narrated Jabir bin `Abdullah: While Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was distributing the booty at Al-Ja’rana, somebody said to him, “Be just (in your distribution).”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “Verily, I would be miserable if I did not act justly.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3139
Chapter Number: 16 – The free emancipation of the captives by the Prophet (peace be upon him) without taking out the Khumus from the booty
Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im: The Prophet (peace be upon him) talked about the war prisoners of Badr, saying, “Had Al-Mut`im bin Adi been alive and interceded with me for these mean people, I would have freed them for his sake.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3140
Chapter 17: The proof that Khumus is for the Imam (ruler), and he may give to some relatives over others – based on what the Prophet ﷺ gave to Banu Al-Muttalib and Banu Hashim from the Khumus of the Khaibar booty
Statement of ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul Aziz: “The Prophet ﷺ did not give all of them (i.e., his relatives) equally, nor did he prefer a close relative over one in greater need. He gave to those who complained of need and who suffered hardship from their people (the Quraysh and their allies) for his sake.”
Narrated Jubair bin Mut’im: I and Uthman bin Affan went to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ and said,
“O Allah’s Messenger! You have given (spoils) to Banu Al-Muttalib and left us, though both we and they are of the same kinship to you.”
Allah’s Messenger ﷺ replied: “Banu Al-Muttalib and Banu Hashim are one and the same.”
The Prophet ﷺ did not give anything to Banu `Abd Shams and Banu Nawfal.
(Ibn Ishaq said: “`Abd Shams, Hashim, and Al-Muttalib were maternal brothers — their mother was Atika bint Murrah — and Nawfal was their paternal brother.”)
Sahih al-Bukhari 3141
Chapter 18: Not taking the Khumus from the spoils of a killed infidel
“He who kills an infidel gets his belongings without giving Khumus, and the ruling is with the Imam.”
Narrated Abdur-Rahman bin Auf: While I was standing in the battle row on the day of Badr, I saw two young Ansari boys on either side of me and wished I had stronger men beside me. One of them tapped me and asked, “O Uncle, do you know Abu Jahl?” I said, “Yes. Why do you ask?” He said, “I was told he insults the Prophet ﷺ. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, if I see him, I won’t leave him until one of us is dead.”
I was amazed at his determination. Then the other boy repeated the same. Soon I saw Abu Jahl walking among the people and said, “There he is!” Both boys rushed at him with their swords and killed him. They went to Allah’s Messenger ﷺ to tell him. He asked, “Which of you killed him?” Each said, “I did.” He asked, “Have you wiped your swords?”
They said, “No.”He looked at their swords and said, “Both of you killed him. The spoils belong to Mu’adh bin ‘Amr bin Al-Jamuh.”
The boys were: Mu’adh bin ‘Afra, and Mu’adh bin ‘Amr bin Al-Jamuh
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3142
Narrated Abu Qatada: We set out in the company of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) on the day (of the battle) of Hunain. When we faced the enemy, the Muslims retreated and I saw a pagan throwing himself over a Muslim. I turned around and came upon him from behind and hit him on the shoulder with the sword. He (i.e. the pagan) came towards me and seized me so violently that I felt as if it were death itself, but death overtook him and he released me. I followed Umar bin Al-Khattab and asked (him), “What is wrong with the people (fleeing)?” He replied, “This is the Will of Allah.” After the people returned, the Prophet (peace be upon him) sat and said, “Anyone who has killed an enemy and has a proof of that, will possess his spoils.” I got up and said, “Who will be a witness for me?” and then sat down. The Prophet (peace be upon him) again said, “Anyone who has killed an enemy and has proof of that, will possess his spoils.” I (again) got up and said, “Who will be a witness for me?” and sat down. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said the same for the third time. I again got up, and Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “O Abu Qatada! What is your story?” Then I narrated the whole story to him. A man (got up and) said, “O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)! He is speaking the truth, and the spoils of the killed man are with me. So please compensate him on my behalf.” On that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said, “No, by Allah, he (i.e. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)) will not agree to give you the spoils gained by one of Allah’s Lions who fights on the behalf of Allah and His Apostle.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Abu Bakr has spoken the truth.” So, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) gave the spoils to me. I sold that armor (i.e. the spoils) and with its price I bought a garden at Bani Salima, and this was my first property which I gained after my conversion to Islam.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3143
Narrated Urwa bin Az-Zubair: Hakim bin Hizam said, “I asked Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) for something, and he gave me. I asked him again, and he gave me, and said to me, ‘O Hakim! This wealth is like green sweet (i.e. fruit), and if one takes it without greed, then one is blessed in it, and if one takes it with greediness, then one is not blessed in it, and will be like the one who eats without satisfaction. And an upper (i.e. giving) hand is better than a lower (i.e. taking) hand.’ I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)! By Him Who has sent you with the Truth, I will not ask anyone for anything after you till I leave this world.’ So, when Abu Bakr during his Caliphate, called Hakim to give him (some money), Hakim refused to accept anything from him. Once Umar called him (during his Caliphate) in order to give him something, but Hakim refused to accept it, whereupon Umar said, ‘O Muslims! I give him (i.e. Hakim) his right which Allah has assigned to him from this Fai’ (booty), but he refuses to take it.’ So Hakim never took anything from anybody after the Prophet (peace be upon him) till he died.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3144
Narrated Nafi’: Umar bin Al-Khattab said, “O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)! I vowed to observe I’tikaf for one day during the pre-Islamic period.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered him to fulfill his vow. Umar gained two lady captives from the war prisoners of Hunain, and he left them in some of the houses at Mecca. When Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) freed the captives of Hunain without ransom, they came out walking in the streets. Umar said (to his son), “O Abdullah! See what is the matter.” Abdullah replied, “Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) has freed the captives without ransom.” He said (to him), “Go and set free those two slave girls.” (Nafi’ added:) Allah’s Apostle did not perform the ‘Umra from Al-Jarana, and if he had performed the ‘Umra, it would not have been hidden from Abdullah.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3145
Narrated Amr bin Taghlib: Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) gave (gifts) to some people to the exclusion of some others. The latter seemed to be displeased by that. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I give to some people, lest they should deviate from True Faith or lose patience, while I refer other people to the goodness and contentment which Allah has put in their hearts, and Amr bin Taghlib is amongst them.” Amr bin Taghlib said, “The statement of Allah’s Apostle is dearer to me than red camels.” Narrated Al-Hasan: Amr bin Taghlib told us that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) got some property or some war prisoners and he distributed them in the above way (i.e., giving to some people to the exclusion of others).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3146
Narrated Anas: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I give to Quraish people in order to let them adhere to Islam, for they are near to their life of Ignorance (i.e., they have newly embraced Islam and it is still not strong in their hearts).”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3147
Narrated Anas bin Malik: When Allah favored His Apostle with the properties of Hawazin tribe as Fai (booty), he started giving to some Quraish men even up to one-hundred camels each, whereupon some Ansari men said about Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), “May Allah forgive His Apostle! He is giving to (men of) Quraish and leaves us, in spite of the fact that our swords are still dripping blood (of the infidels).” When Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) was informed of what they had said, he called the Ansar and gathered them in a leather tent and did not call anybody else along with them.
When they gathered, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) came to them and said, “What is the statement which I have been informed about, that which you have said?” The learned ones among them replied, “O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him)! The wise ones amongst us did not say anything, but the youngsters amongst us said, ‘May Allah forgive His Apostle; he gives the Quraish and leaves the Ansar, in spite of the fact that our swords are still wet with the blood of the infidels.'”
Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) replied, “I give to such people as are still close to the period of Infidelity (i.e. they have recently embraced Islam and Faith is still weak in their hearts). Won’t you be pleased to see people go with worldly gains, while you return with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) to your houses? By Allah, what you will return with is better than what they are returning with.” The Ansar replied, “Yes, O Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), we are satisfied.”
Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said to them, “You will find after me others being preferred to you. Then be patient till you meet Allah and meet His Apostle at Al-Kauthar (i.e. a fountain in Paradise).” (Anas added:) But we did not remain patient.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3148
Narrated Jubair bin Mut’im: While he was with Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) who was accompanied by the people on their way back from Hunain, the bedouins started begging things of Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) so much so that they forced him to go under a Samura tree where his loose outer garment was snatched away.
On that, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) stood up and said to them, “Return my garment to me. If I had as many camels as these trees, I would have distributed them amongst you; and you will not find me a miser or a liar or a coward.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3149
Narrated Anas bin Malik: While I was walking with the Prophet (peace be upon him) who was wearing a Najrani outer garment with a thick hem, a bedouin came upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) and pulled his garment so violently that I could recognize the impression of the hem of the garment on his shoulder, caused by the violence of his pull. Then the bedouin said, “Order for me something from Allah’s wealth which you have.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) turned to him and smiled, and ordered that a gift be given to him.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3150
Narrated Abdullah: On the day (of the battle) of Hunain, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) favored some people in the distribution of the booty (to the exclusion of others); he gave Al-Aqra’ bin Habis one-hundred camels and he gave ‘Uyaina the same amount, and also gave to some of the eminent Arabs, giving them preference in this regard. Then a person came and said, “By Allah, in this distribution justice has not been observed, nor has Allah’s Pleasure been aimed at.” I said (to him), “By Allah, I will inform the Prophet (of what you have said).” I went and informed him, and he said, “If Allah and His Apostle did not act justly, who else would act justly? May Allah be merciful to Moses, for he was harmed with more than this, yet he kept patient.”
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3151
Narrated Asma bint Abu Bakr: I used to carry the date stones on my head from the land of Az-Zubair which Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) had given to him, and it was at a distance of two-thirds of a Farsakh from my house.
Hisham’s father added: The Prophet (peace be upon him) gave Az-Zubair a piece of land from the property of Bani An-Nadir (gained as war booty).
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3152
Narrated Ibn Umar: Umar bin Al-Khattab expelled all the Jews and Christians from the land of Hijaz. Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him), after conquering Khaibar, thought of expelling the Jews from the land which, after he conquered it, belonged to Allah, Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) and the Muslims. But the Jews requested Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) to leave them there on the condition that they would do the labor and get half of the fruits (the land would yield). Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “We shall keep you on these terms as long as we wish.” Thus they stayed till the time of Umar’s Caliphate when he expelled them to Taima and Ariha.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3153
Chapter: 20 The food gained as war booty in the battlefield
Narrated Abdullah bin Mughaffal: While we were besieging the fort of Khaibar, a person threw a leather container containing fat, and I ran to take it, but when I turned I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) standing behind, so I felt embarrassed in front of him.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3154
Narrated Ibn Umar: In our holy battles, we used to get honey and grapes as war booty which we would eat and would not store.
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3155
Narrated Ibn Abi `Aufa: We were afflicted with hunger during the besiege of Khaibar, and when it was the day of (the battle of) Khaibar, we slaughtered the donkeys and when the pots got boiling (with their meat). Allah’s Apostle made an announcement that all the pots should be upset and that nobody should eat anything of the meat of the donkeys. We thought that the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited that because the Khumus had not been taken out of the booty (i.e. donkeys); other people said, “He prohibited eating them for ever.” The sub-narrator added, “I asked Sa`id bin Jubair who said, ‘He has made the eating of donkeys’ meat illegal for ever.”)