By: Ayatullah Shaheed Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim
This chapter deals with some other Islamic economic policies, unobserved by the Islamic state, that the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) carried out, confirming that these policies and duties had been enacted in the religious law of Islam of which details are known by the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) more than anyone else.
They also determined certain strategies, duties and teachings that were restricted to the individuals of the virtuous community because they helped treat urgent problems that arose or helped put their economic activity on the right track.
In this respect, we touch on three main areas:
• The Imam and the general political system
• The individuals of the virtuous community and their responsibilities towards one another
• The economic activities of the virtuous community
These areas include the following measures:
• Khums paid from profits
• Restricted social solidarity (rights of brethren-in-faith)
• Focused economic activity
Khums Paid From Profits
Khums is believed to be one of the most important economic legislations in the religious, economic theory of Islam, especially as viewed by the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a). The origin of its enactment and related laws are derived from the Holy Qur’an as well as authentic, clear-cut texts of the Holy Sunnah. Khums, because of its high percentage (20 and the large circle of finances subject to it, creates one of the most vital resources of the Islamic state.
Muslims are almost in full agreement that spoils of war and treasures are subject to khums, but a number, after having delved into many divergent details, have claimed that minerals were subject to zakat, not khums.1
Based on the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) maintained that the following seven categories were subject to khums:
(1) Spoils of war
(2) Minerals discovered as natural resources
(3) Discovered treasures
(4) Precious stones extracted from oceans and seas, such as pearls and corals gathered while diving
(5) Lawful money intermixed with illegally acquired assets
(6) Lands purchased by Dhimmis from Muslims
(7) Profits of earnings
There is a great difference between the concept of the Ahl al-Bayt and other Muslim jurisprudents about financial rights restricting khums to a very narrow scope and keeping the door wide open for other financial duties, such as zakat which has a percentage of less than one-fifth and, in addition, restricting stipulations regarding the payment of khums.
Khums is a tax dedicated to the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), who are the recipients of this tax. The Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) also enjoy some rights regarding the fay’ money. In fact, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), as the Holy Prophet’s qurba (relatives), have been mentioned in relation to khums and fay’ in the Holy Qur’an. The Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) are unanimously accepted as the kin (dhawu’l-qurba) to whom the Holy Qur’an has referred to on more than one occasion, such as the following: Know that whatever thing you gain, a fifth of it is for Allah, the Messenger, the near of kin, the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer, if you believe in Allah and in that which We revealed to Our servant… (8:41)
Whatever Allah has restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns, it is for Allah and for the Messenger and the near kinsmen and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer… (59:7)
Conforming to these holy verses, the Holy Prophet (S), the first caliph and the second caliph (in a part of his reign) would pay a share of the khums to the relatives of the Holy Prophet (S). However, ‘Umar, the second caliph, deemed it too much to give them such a share; therefore, he suggested to them that such payment would be made only for urgent needs of their members (i.e. the Holy Prophet’s relatives). From the beginning, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) denounced such wrong interpretation of the religious law and refused to take anything less than their entire due, so ‘Umar deprived them of it completely. This deprivation continued into the successive reigns as a result of ‘Umar’s act and misinterpretation.2
In Sahih Muslim,3 Yazid ibn Hurmuz is reported to have said that Najdah ibn ‘Amir al-Haruri, a Kharijite, wrote a letter to Ibn ‘Abbas. Yazid confirmed that he was present when Ibn ‘Abbas received and replied to that letter: “You have asked me about the share of the near of kin,” Ibn ‘Abbas wrote, “and about those relatives whom Almighty Allah mentioned. We have always considered ourselves the near of kin of Allah’s Messenger (S), but our people deprived us of it.”4
According to another narration, Ibn ‘Abbas is reported to have said: The share of the near of kin (qurba) is for the relatives of Allah’s Messenger (S) according to the distribution that he used to make. ‘Umar then made us an offer, which we deemed less than our due; therefore, we rejected it insisting on our legal share.5
According to a third narration, Ibn ‘Abbas is reported to have said: The share of the near of kin (out of khums) is for us, the Ahl al-Bayt. However, ‘Umar suggested that he would restrict it to urgent occasions, such as marrying off the poor among us, aiding the destitute, and settling the debts of the indebted, but we insisted that he should give us our complete share. ‘Umar, however, rejected; therefore, we left it as his responsibility.6
In Sunan al-Bayhaqi, ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi-Ya’la is reported to have said that he once met (Imam) ‘Ali (‘a) at Ahjar al-Zayt and said, “(I am amazed) how Abu-Bakr and ‘Umar violated your rights—you, the Ahl al-Bayt—regarding khums!”
(Imam) ‘Ali (‘a) answered: …’Umar then said, “It is true that you enjoy a right, but as much as I know, it should not be given to you entirely when it is such a large amount! If you wish, I will give you an amount that I see sufficient for you.” However, we rejected receiving any amount less than our entire right, but ‘Umar refused to give us our entire due.7
Many narrations, reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), substantiate that khums, including the shares of the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarers in addition to the near of kin, are dedicated to the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) as compensation for their deprivation from zakat and alms, which are considered surplus for people. Khums, on the other hand, is a duty that Almighty Allah has made for the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) in public funds or gains. It is thus goes beyond surplus funds.
In Tahdhib al-Ahkam, Shaykh al-Tusi has reported on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn Bukayr on the authority of some of his companions that Imam al-Baqir (‘a) or Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) had said: As regarding the interpretation of this verse, “Know that whatever you gain, a fifth of it is for Allah”, the one-fifth that is Almighty Allah’s is for the Imam. One-fifth of the Messenger’s share is for the Imam. One-fifth of the near of kin is for the Messenger’s relatives. The orphans, here, stand exclusively for the orphans among the Messenger’s relatives. The same thing applies to the needy and the wayfarers. Hence, khums never departs from them to join anyone else.8
As is understood from the ‘verse of gains’ (ghanimah 8:41) and the ‘verse of restoration’ (fay’ 59:7), as well as some traditions reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), khums is dedicated to the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) exclusively; while the other details (i.e. reference to the orphans, needy, etc.) have been mentioned to define the categories that legally deserve shares from khums apportioned by the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a).9
In (his book of) al-Kafi, Shaykh al-Kulayni has reported through a valid series of narrators, that Imam al-Baqir (‘a) said: Regarding the interpretation of this verse, “Know that whatever you gain, a fifth of it is for Allah”, the near of kin are exclusively the relatives of the Holy Prophet (S). So, khums is only for Almighty Allah, the Messenger (S), and us.10
Shaykh al-Kulayni, through an authentic chain of authority, has also reported Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) as saying: The anfal properties include estates towards which neither horse nor riding camel are sent forward, estates that are gained due to reconciliation or gift, derelict lands, and the bottoms of valleys. All these are owned by the Holy Prophet (S) and then by the Imam (‘a) who has the right to use them as he wills.11
However, the ownership of khums has been exposed to meticulous argument. Some scholars have argued that khums is possessed by the Holy Imams (‘a) personally and the position of Imamate is a stipulation that is specified for gaining this ownership; therefore, khums cannot be inherited by the lineal heirs of the Holy Imams (‘a) because their capacity as Imams has been the reason for granting them ownership of such large properties. Other scholars, on the other hand, have argued that khums is owned by the position of Imamate (not the Imams themselves); therefore, it is not dedicated only to the Holy Imams (‘a) and this ownership may be transferred to their representatives and agents who will thus have the right to utilize the funds of khums.12
However, the evidence on these opinions, from a Muslim jurisprudential point of view, as well as the sectarian disagreements between the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) school and the other Muslim schools, or between the different inferences of the scholars of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) school, are not our primary concern in this discussion; rather, we only intend to deal with the distinctive features of the Ahl al-Bayt’s jurisprudence concerning the funds of khums as much as they reflect on the economic system of the virtuous community.
There are three generally accepted views towards this topic:
• The Holy Imams’ (‘a) view towards the one-fifth tax being obligatory on the funds obtained by people from spoils of war, minerals, treasures, gains from diving, lands purchased by Dhimmis from Muslims, legal funds intermixed with illegally acquired assets and the profit of one’s earnings.
• The Holy Imams’ (‘a) view about the one-fifth tax regarding the profit of earnings and the explanation of imposing this tax in later times.
• The role of khums in the economic life of the virtuous community.
People-obtained funds subject to khums
Based on the Ahl al-Bayt’s teachings about khums, their followers encountered general problems while dealing with the money used by Muslims publicly, which included the funds subject to khums in the view of non-Shi’ite jurisprudents (such as spoils of war and treasures) and some funds not subjected to this tax in their view (such as tax on minerals, etc.), in view of the fact that some properties brought up sensitive issues, such as bondwomen and slaves captured in battles that were considered to be spoils of war, a fifth of which belonged to the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a).13 As a result, marrying such bondwomen was illegal without obtaining the permission of the owner.
This ruling is fixed. Whether the individuals of the virtuous community participated in such battles or not, purchased from participants in it, or possessed such captured bondwomen or slaves is another matter. In reality, the problem was wide-ranging and it clashed with the doctrinal aspect and the economic and spiritual pressures on the virtuous community. Sometimes, the problem could not be solved even if khums was paid again.
Having noticed the existence of this problem from its beginning and before the growth and perfection of the virtuous community, the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) declared a part of this type of khums lawful for their followers and Shi’ah to use—yet to the extent related to the problem. This declaration included even fathers and mothers of individuals of the virtuous community. The Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) explained this permissibility as being to alleviate the economic and psychological pressures imposed on the virtuous community and ensure the legitimacy of their births and origins.
Foreseeing this problem, Lady Fatimah al-Zahra’ and Imam ‘Ali Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) were the first to permit their followers to use the Ahl al-Bayt’s one-fifth share before the emergence of the problem.
Shaykh al-Saduq, in his book of ‘Ilal al-Shara’i’, Shaykh al-Mufid, in his book of al-Muqni’ah, and Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam and al-Istibsar, through an authentic chain of authority, have reported on the authority of Abu-Basir, Zurarah, and Muhammad ibn Muslim on the authority of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (‘a) that Imam ‘Ali Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) said: People are perishing because of their stomachs and private parts, since they have not fulfilled our rights over them. Our Shi’ah and their fathers are exempted from this (for they fulfill our rights).14
Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam, has reported on the authority of Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Saffar, through an authentic series of narrators, that Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) said: Whoever finds the serenity of love for us in his heart must express thanks to Almighty Allah for the first of graces…the legitimacy of birth. Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) asked Lady Fatimah (‘a) to permit her share of the fay’ funds for the fathers of our Shi’ah so that births would be lawful. As for us, we have legalized the marriage of the mothers of our Shi’ah to their fathers so that the birth of our Shi’ah would be legitimate.15
In addition to Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam, Shaykh al-Kulayni, in Usul al-Kafi, has reported Duraysh al-Kunnasi, through a valid chain of authority, as quoting the following from Imam al-Sadiq (‘a): Do you know why adultery has afflicted people?…It has afflicted them because they have not paid their one-fifth duty to us, i.e. the Ahl al-Bayt. Exempted from this are our pure Shi’ah. We have permitted this share for them and their offspring.16
Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam, and Shaykh al-Mufid, in al-Muqni’ah, have reported the following from Salim ibn Mukrim: I was present when a man said to Imam al-Sadiq (‘a), “Please, permit me the private parts.”
The Imam (‘a) became furious on this request. Another man explained, “He is not asking you to permit him to violate chastity; rather, he is asking you to permit him to purchase a servant, marry a woman, own a legacy, gain business profit, or dispose of a gift that has been given to him.”
The Imam (‘a) replied: Those are legal for our Shi’ah—the present and the absent, the deceased and those alive, and those who have not yet been born up to the Day of Resurrection. Those are legal for them. By Allah (I swear), nothing of that is legal except that which we permit. Verily, we have neither given anybody (else) permanent permission, nor have we been engaged in a pledge with anybody, nor have we had any covenant with anybody.17
Other narrations have borne the indication that the Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), in order to alleviate the consequences of the economic pressures and sieges that overburdened their followers by the ruling authorities (and sometimes by individuals) widened the scope of this permission to include all situations of need and destitution, although such broadening of the scope of permission was considered an executive procedure restricted to that age.
Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam, and Shaykh al-Saduq, in man-la-yahdhuruhu’l-faqih, have reported the following from ‘Ali ibn Mahziyar: In a letter sent to Imam al-Baqir (‘a) which I myself read, a man asked him to give him permission to utilize khums to purchase food and drink.
The Imam (‘a) replied: Anyone who needs any of my right is allowed to utilize it.18
The same result is concluded from the following narration of Yunus ibn Ya’qub, which is reported by Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam, Shaykh al-Saduq, in man-la-yahdhuruhul-faqih, and Shaykh al-Mufid, in al-Muqni’ah: I was present with Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) when a reed-house builder (or baby-dressmaker) visited him and said, “May Allah accept me as ransom for you! We have gained funds, profits, and money from business and we know for sure that you have a fixed share in these. However, we have neglected your right.”
Imam al-Sadiq (‘a) answered: If today we impose upon you to give us our rights out of these, then we will not have treated you fairly.19
Profit of Earnings Subject To Khums
The Imamiyyah Shi’ite jurisprudents have almost no doubt about the ruling that the profit of earnings are subject to khums after deduction of annual provisions.20 In this ruling, they rely on the unrestrictedness of the holy verse verifying that all that which is gained by man—be it spoils of war, treasures, minerals, diving gains, or gains of business, work, and professions—is subject to khums.
It is true that the holy verse has been revealed on the occasion of spoils of war, but the unanimously agreed upon rule in the fundamentals of Muslim jurisprudence (Usul al-Fiqh), which entails that “a specific cause cannot restrict an unrestricted cause” necessitates that the ruling derived from the holy verse must be kept unrestricted.
In a validly reported tradition, ‘Ali ibn Mahziyar reported Imam al-Jawad (‘a) to have said the following: As for gains and profit, they are obligatorily subject to taxation each year. Almighty Allah has said, “Know that whatever thing you gain, a fifth of it is for Allah, the Messenger, the near of kin, the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer, if you believe in Allah and in that which We revealed to Our servant, on the day of distinction, the day on which the two parties met. Allah has power over all things. (8:41)”
By gains and benefits we mean the following: gains are whatever is gained by man, and benefits are whatever is utilized by man and the gifts that one gives to another, bearing in mind that they are considerable in value…21
Many traditions that decisively confirm this fact have been reported from the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) who are the second ‘Weighty Thing’, the counterparts of the Holy Qur’an, and the most knowledgeable of all regarding the Holy Qur’an, the Prophetic traditions, and the laws of the religion of Islam.
Shaykh al-Tusi, in Tahdhib al-Ahkam and al-Istibsar, has reported through a valid chain of authority that Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Ash’ari said: Some of our acquaintances wrote a letter to Imam al-Jawad (‘a) asking him whether khums is applied to all gains that one may obtain, be they few or much, to all professions and crafts, and how they are applied.
The Imam’s reply (in a written form) was the following: All is subjected to khums after excluding the (annual) provisions.22
Ibn Shuja’ al-Nayshaburi has reported that he asked Imam al-Hadi (‘a) about the taxes imposed on the gains of a man who obtained one hundred kurr (a unit of measurement) from the yield of wheat. He used one-tenth of the yield as expenditures, expended thirty kurr on reconstructing his farm, and only sixty kurr remained for him…
The Imam (‘a) answered (in a written form): Out of the remainder, after he deducts his annual provisions, one fifth is for me.23
‘Ali ibn Mahziyar has reported that Abu-’Ali ibn Rashid said to the Imam (‘a), “When you ordered me to represent you and collect your rights, I informed your adherents, but some of them asked me to identify (the amount of) your right, but I could not answer.”
The Imam (‘a) answered: It is obligatory upon them to pay khums (one-fifth portion).
“What are the things subject to this tax?” I asked.
The Imam (‘a) answered: The money of their belongings and their crafts is subjected to khums.
“Is the money of businessmen and craftsmen included?” I asked.
The Imam (‘a) answered: Yes, when possible (i.e. when something remains) after setting apart their annual provisions.24
The Emergence of this Ruling in Later Times
The matter of the origin of the legislation of khums and most details are clear from a Muslim jurisprudential aspect. Nevertheless, there are some points of obscurity attached to this legislation that require some explanation and clarification.
The first point of obscurity ensues from the fact that some details of khums were not known in general to the Muslim nation and we cannot find any reference to or indication of such details from the first age of Islam up to the age of Imam al-Baqir and Imam al-Sadiq (‘a),25 despite the fact that khums on earnings were existent since the first age of Islam and during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (S). This fact may arouse some questions about gains on earnings that are subject to khums.
The second point of obscurity ensues from the fact that this religious law seemed to have been nonexistent even in the milieus of the virtuous community although, firstly, such profits of earnings were existent and, secondly, there was a profound connection between the individuals of the virtuous community and the Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a).
To explain the earlier point of obscurity, we may refer the reader to the previous chapter about the religious referential authority of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) where we have stated that the Holy Prophet (S) did not reveal all the religious laws of Islam before all Muslims, for tangible reasons appertaining to the Holy Prophet (S) personally and to the Muslim nation; rather, he (S) revealed these rulings and laws to special individuals, including Imam ‘Ali Amir al-Mu’minin (‘a) and some of his elite companions.
He (S) referred the Muslim nations to the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) if they, in the future, would desire to learn these laws—a fact that is corroborated by traditions authentically reported from the Holy Prophet (S), such as the famous Hadith al-Thaqalayn (Tradition of the Two Weighty Things) and others, as well as verbal and practical confessions of the caliphs to this fact shown in their referrals to Imam ‘Ali (‘a) to solve enigmatic problems.
As a result, details of this religious law were undisclosed to the Muslim nation because of the political and cultural circumstances that deprived the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) of their political position. Hence, khums was one of the matters firmly related to this issue, because the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) were the one and only authority to decide about this tax.26
As another justification, it may also be said that the Holy Prophet (S) did not demonstrate details of this religious law; rather, he delayed the question and entrusted it to the Imams (‘a) to reveal it at the appropriate time when required.27
In addition, the gains of earnings being subject to khums was not within the affairs that could be manipulated by the authorities because it became operative only after gaining profits in business and deducting annual provisions. Like the amount of zakat on gold, silver and business income, these conditions could not be controlled or defined by the religious authority. Therefore, the jurisprudents of the other Muslim sects exclude these funds from being delivered to the ruler because they are considered ‘invisible funds’. ‘Visible funds’, such as cattle and yields, which could be estimated and assessed, had to be delivered to the ruler.28
Moreover, profit on earnings during the age of the Holy Prophet (S) was a small amount and restricted to a certain number of people.
It can be seen that non-Shi’ite Muslim jurisprudents maintain that it is obligatory to pay zakat on business investments, while Shi’ite jurisprudents clearly maintain the opposite. This may stand in as evidence to conclude that according to Islamic legislation, khums is on the profit of earnings; however, khums might have been changed by non-Shi’ite jurisprudents into zakat because of lack of scrutiny of the religious laws or because of the many attempts at modification and distortion to which Muslim society and Islam were exposed such that even evident issues of Islamic legislation became ambiguous, such as some rulings of zakat, Hajj (pilgrimage) and others.29
The Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a), however, did not make efforts to publically elucidate this religious law because such efforts would certainly result in political conflicts, since elucidation of this religious law would grant the tyrannical ruling authorities more power and potency. The tyrannical authorities believed that khums should be possessed by the caliph, and in this case these funds would be transferred to the treasury of the caliphs most of whom would consider such funds to be their pure ownership.
As for the explanation of the second point of ambiguity, it can be explained by one of the following probabilities:
(1) The Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) had not wanted to burden their Shi’ah, who were few in number at that time, with more financial loads. Moreover, they did not consider the existence of an urgent need for such funds because the virtuous community had not yet spread over a large scale to have big expenses. As a result, the Holy Imams (‘a) allowed their followers to make disposition of the funds because the funds were possessed by the position of Imamate and the Imams had the right to determine their disposition. They also allowed their Shi’ah to make disposition of khums received from the funds of the other people.
All this was based on the ruling that profit from earnings was subject to khums, as being originally enacted by Islamic legislation which the Holy Prophet (S) explained as a whole to the people and in detail to Imam ‘Ali (‘a), as indicated by the unrestrictedness of the holy verse involved and the purport of some traditions.
(2) Some scholars, however, have argued that the question of profits on earnings that are subject to khums was not clarified in the original Islamic legislation; rather, it was one of the issues left for the Holy Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) to determine within the expansive authorities that the Holy Prophet (S) gave them in the field of enacting certain laws appertaining to the general affairs of the Muslim community within the boundaries of financial issues.30
On the grounds of this opinion, we can explain the unfamiliarity of the Shi’ah, in general, that profit of earnings were subject to khums up to the age of Imam al-Baqir and Imam al-Sadiq (‘a). This explanation is as follows: The Holy Imams (‘a) had not executed this ruling before the age of these two Imams (‘a) because there had been no need for this financial resource before that age. However, when need for it surfaced, because of the growth and perfection of the virtuous community and the need for funds to fill the financial gap of meeting its needs and spending on the individuals of this community, this law was carried out.
1. – Refer to: Abu-Ya’li al-Farra’ al-Hanbali (the Hanbalite), al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, pp. 115; Abu’l-Hasan ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Mawardi, al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, pp. 113.
2. – Some historical reports bear out that this prohibition was initially decided by Abu-Bakr, the first caliph; while others confirm that it was decided by ‘Umar.
There are additional traditions upholding this fact. In his introduction to Mir’at al-Uqul (1:153-155), ‘Allamah Murtadha al-’Askari has discussed this topic elaborately.
3. – One of the most reliable reference books of hadith for Sunnis.
4. – Sahih Muslim, Kitab (Section) al-jihad wa’l-siyar, No. 48.
5. – These narrations can be found in the introduction of Mir’at al-’Uqul (1:153-155). The author has quoted them from famous reference books relied on by Sunni Muslims.
6. – Murtadha al-’Askari, Mir’at al-’Uqul 1:153-155.
7. – Murtadha al-’Askari, Mir’at al-’Uqul 1:153-155.
8. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:356, H. 2.
9. – For more information in this regard, refer to Buhuth fi’l-Fiqh by Sayyid Mahmud al-Hashimi (Chapter: Khums) 2:374-397.
10. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:357, H. 5.
11. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:364, H. 1.
12. – For further information, refer to Buhuth fi’l-Fiqh by Sayyid Mahmud al-Hashimi (Chapter: The Khums) as well as Buhuth al-Khums by Shaykh al-Muntazari.
In truth, traditions give preponderance to the latter opinion over the earlier if we restrict our study to the purports of traditions. However, it is claimed that there is a consensus among the scholars of the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) school on the earlier opinion.
13. – This is legal only when the battle is founded on a religious basis and permitted by the actual religious authority of Muslims; otherwise, it is illegal for the warriors to utilize such spoils of war, such as occurred in some deviant instances, and these are totally at the Imam’s disposal.
14. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:379, H. 1.
15. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:381, H. 10.
16. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:379, H. 3.
17. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:379, H. 4.
18. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:379, H. 2.
19. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:380, S. 4 (Deeds Restricted to the Imam), H. 6.
20. – Sayyid Abu’l-Qasim al-Khu’i, Mustanad al-’Urwah al-Wuthqa, Kitab al-Khums, pp. 193-194.
21. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:350, H. 5.
22. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:348, H. 1.
23. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:348, H. 2.
24. – Al-Hurr al-’Amili, Wasa’il al-Shi’ah 6:348, H. 3.
25. – Sayyid Abu’l-Qasim al-Khu’i, Mustanad al-’Urwat al-Wuthqa, Kitab al-Khums, pp. 196.
However, the author made efforts to find any hint of such details from the traditions of the Holy Prophet (S) and found one mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari. See pp. 197.
26. – This detail is confirmed by the aforementioned discussion of the caliphs’ depriving the Ahl al-Bayt (‘a) of their one-fifth share of the spoils of war, which is their right as openly declared by the Holy Qur’an.
27. – Sayyid Abu’l-Qasim al-Khu’i, Mustanad al-’Urwah al-Wuthqa, Kitab al-Khums, pp. 196.
28. – Abu-Ya’li al-Farra’ the Hanbalite scholar, al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, pp. 115; al-Mawardi, al-Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah, pp. 113.
29. – Sayyid Abu’l-Qasim al-Khu’i, Mustanad al-’Urwah al-Wuthqa, Kitab al-Khums, pp. 197-198.
30. – Refer to Sayyid Abu’l-Qasim al-Khu’i, Mustanad al-’Urwat al-Wuthqa, Kitab al-Khums, pp. 196; Buhuth fi’l-Fiqh, Kitab al-Khums 2:43.