Juz 28: Al-Mujādilah to At-Taḥrīm
Section 6 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
6. Distribution of Fai' (Non-Combat Acquired Wealth) | Verses: Al-Hashr 59:6-10
One of the distinctive aspects of the Banu Nadir expulsion was that their wealth was acquired without an actual battle taking place. This type of acquisition is called fai' in Islamic law, differing from the spoils of war (ghanimah) gained through direct combat. Allah establishes specific rules for the distribution of this wealth in these verses, providing an important economic principle for the Islamic society.
وَمَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْهُمْ فَمَا أَوْجَفْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَيْلٍ وَلَا رِكَابٍ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُسَلِّطُ رُسُلَهُ عَلَىٰ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“Whatever Allah has bestowed on His Messenger from them, for that you did not urge on any horse or camel; but Allah gives authority to His messengers over whomsoever He wills. And Allah is Powerful over everything. (59:6)”
Here Allah explains that since the Muslims did not have to fight a battle to obtain this wealth (they "did not urge on any horse or camel"), the distribution rules differ from those of war booty. The next verse elaborates on who is entitled to this wealth:
مَا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ كَيْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ الْأَغْنِيَاءِ مِنْكُمْ
“Whatever Allah has bestowed on His Messenger from the people of the towns, it is for Allah and for the Messenger, and for the kinsmen and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, so that it may not circulate only between the rich among you. (59:7)”
This verse establishes a fundamental economic principle in Islam—wealth should not merely circulate among