Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
It is established that:
Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar (RA) reported:
«قسم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم خيبر للفرس سهمين وللراجل سهما»
“On the day of Khaybar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave two shares to a horseman and one share to a foot soldier.”
[Bukhari 2863; Muslim 1762; Tirmidhi 1554; Abu Dawud 2733; Ibn Majah 2854; al-Darimi 2/225-226; Ahmad 2/2, 62; Musnad al-Shafi‘i 2/124; al-Daraqutni 4/101; al-Bayhaqi 6/325]
Another wording from Abu Dawud:
«أسهم لرجل ولفرسه ثلاثة أسهم، سهمين لفرسه وسهما له»
“He ﷺ allotted three shares to a cavalryman—two shares for his horse and one for himself.”
This view was adopted by scholars such as:
Umar bin Abdul Aziz, Imam Hasan, Imam Ibn Sirin, Imam Husayn bin Thabit, Imam Malik, scholars of Madinah, Imam Sufyan al-Thawri, scholars of Iraq, Imam al-Layth, Imam al-Shafi‘i, Imam Ishaq, Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Thawr, Imam Abu Yusuf, and Imam Muhammad bin al-Hasan.
Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) held that a horseman receives two shares only, while a foot soldier receives one.
His evidence was the narration of Hazrat Majma‘ bin Jariyah (RA):
«فأعطي الفارس سهمين وأعطى الراجل سهما»
“The Prophet ﷺ gave two shares to a horseman and one to a foot soldier.”
[Abu Dawud 2736 – graded weak by scholars like Shaykh Subhi Hasan Hallaq; Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari 6/80 confirms Ibn ‘Umar’s narration is stronger]
The sound narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim support the view that:
[See: Tuhfat al-Ahwazi 5/151; al-Mughni 13/85; Sabil al-Salam 4/1784; al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah 2/735; al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu 8/5903; Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘ 7/126; Fath al-Qadir 4/323]
❀ If a fighter comes with two horses, the majority of scholars hold that he is entitled only to the share of one horse, and that too only if the horse is actually present in battle.
[Sabil al-Salam 4/1784]
The principle of equality states that all participants—fighters and those in supportive roles—are included in the distribution.
➊ Narration of Ibn ‘Abbas (RA):
At Badr, when young men claimed credit for combat and the elders reminded them of their protective role, Allah revealed:
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَنفَالِ﴾
Then:
«فقسمها رسول الله بالسواء»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ divided the booty equally among them.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2376; Abu Dawud 2737; al-Nasa’i al-Kubra 6/349; al-Hakim 2/131-132; al-Bayhaqi 6/291]
➋ Hadith of ‘Ubādah bin al-Samit (RA):
«فقسمها رسول الله على فواق بين المسلمين»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed the war booty equally among the Muslims.”
[Ahmad 5/323; al-Hakim 2/135; Majma‘ al-Zawa’id 6/95]
➌ Hadith of Sa‘d bin Malik (RA):
He asked about greater shares for the strong protectors, but the Prophet ﷺ said:
«ثكلتك أمك ابن أم سعد! وهل ترزقون وتنصرون إلا بضعفائكم»
“May your mother lose you, O son of Umm Sa‘d! You are given provision and victory only because of your weak ones.”
[Ahmad 1/173]
➍ Hadith of Mus‘ab bin Sa‘d (RA):
Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas (RA) thought he was superior, but the Prophet ﷺ said:
«هل تنصرون وترزقون إلا بضعفائكم»
“You are only granted victory and provision because of your weak ones.”
[Bukhari 2896; Nasa’i 3178]
➎ Hadith of Abu al-Darda’ (RA):
Reported with similar meaning.
[Ahmad 5/198; Abu Dawud 2594; Tirmidhi 1702; Nasa’i 6/45; Ibn Hibban 4767; al-Hakim 2/106]
Explanation: The weak are often more sincere in supplication and more humble in worship, being free from worldly attachments.
[Nayl al-Awṭār 5/30]
✔ Cavalrymen receive three shares; infantry receive one share.
✔ Stronger fighters and weaker supporters are treated equally in overall distribution, as victory comes through the prayers and sincerity of the weak.
✔ Justice in distribution ensures unity and acknowledges every participant’s contribution to victory.
✿ Shares of Cavalry and Infantry
It is established that:
- A horseman (cavalryman) receives three shares from the war booty—two shares for his horse and one share for himself.
- A foot soldier (infantryman) receives one share.
Evidence
Hazrat Ibn ‘Umar (RA) reported:
«قسم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم خيبر للفرس سهمين وللراجل سهما»
“On the day of Khaybar, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave two shares to a horseman and one share to a foot soldier.”
[Bukhari 2863; Muslim 1762; Tirmidhi 1554; Abu Dawud 2733; Ibn Majah 2854; al-Darimi 2/225-226; Ahmad 2/2, 62; Musnad al-Shafi‘i 2/124; al-Daraqutni 4/101; al-Bayhaqi 6/325]
Another wording from Abu Dawud:
«أسهم لرجل ولفرسه ثلاثة أسهم، سهمين لفرسه وسهما له»
“He ﷺ allotted three shares to a cavalryman—two shares for his horse and one for himself.”
This view was adopted by scholars such as:
Umar bin Abdul Aziz, Imam Hasan, Imam Ibn Sirin, Imam Husayn bin Thabit, Imam Malik, scholars of Madinah, Imam Sufyan al-Thawri, scholars of Iraq, Imam al-Layth, Imam al-Shafi‘i, Imam Ishaq, Imam Ahmad, Imam Abu Thawr, Imam Abu Yusuf, and Imam Muhammad bin al-Hasan.
Hanafi Position
Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله) held that a horseman receives two shares only, while a foot soldier receives one.
His evidence was the narration of Hazrat Majma‘ bin Jariyah (RA):
«فأعطي الفارس سهمين وأعطى الراجل سهما»
“The Prophet ﷺ gave two shares to a horseman and one to a foot soldier.”
[Abu Dawud 2736 – graded weak by scholars like Shaykh Subhi Hasan Hallaq; Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari 6/80 confirms Ibn ‘Umar’s narration is stronger]
Stronger Opinion (Rajih)
The sound narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim support the view that:
- A cavalryman receives three shares (two for his horse + one for himself).
- A foot soldier receives one share.
[See: Tuhfat al-Ahwazi 5/151; al-Mughni 13/85; Sabil al-Salam 4/1784; al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah 2/735; al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu 8/5903; Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘ 7/126; Fath al-Qadir 4/323]
❀ If a fighter comes with two horses, the majority of scholars hold that he is entitled only to the share of one horse, and that too only if the horse is actually present in battle.
[Sabil al-Salam 4/1784]
✿ Equality Between the Strong and the Weak
The principle of equality states that all participants—fighters and those in supportive roles—are included in the distribution.
➊ Narration of Ibn ‘Abbas (RA):
At Badr, when young men claimed credit for combat and the elders reminded them of their protective role, Allah revealed:
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْأَنفَالِ﴾
Then:
«فقسمها رسول الله بالسواء»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ divided the booty equally among them.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2376; Abu Dawud 2737; al-Nasa’i al-Kubra 6/349; al-Hakim 2/131-132; al-Bayhaqi 6/291]
➋ Hadith of ‘Ubādah bin al-Samit (RA):
«فقسمها رسول الله على فواق بين المسلمين»
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ distributed the war booty equally among the Muslims.”
[Ahmad 5/323; al-Hakim 2/135; Majma‘ al-Zawa’id 6/95]
➌ Hadith of Sa‘d bin Malik (RA):
He asked about greater shares for the strong protectors, but the Prophet ﷺ said:
«ثكلتك أمك ابن أم سعد! وهل ترزقون وتنصرون إلا بضعفائكم»
“May your mother lose you, O son of Umm Sa‘d! You are given provision and victory only because of your weak ones.”
[Ahmad 1/173]
➍ Hadith of Mus‘ab bin Sa‘d (RA):
Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas (RA) thought he was superior, but the Prophet ﷺ said:
«هل تنصرون وترزقون إلا بضعفائكم»
“You are only granted victory and provision because of your weak ones.”
[Bukhari 2896; Nasa’i 3178]
➎ Hadith of Abu al-Darda’ (RA):
Reported with similar meaning.
[Ahmad 5/198; Abu Dawud 2594; Tirmidhi 1702; Nasa’i 6/45; Ibn Hibban 4767; al-Hakim 2/106]
Explanation: The weak are often more sincere in supplication and more humble in worship, being free from worldly attachments.
[Nayl al-Awṭār 5/30]
✿ Summary
✔ Cavalrymen receive three shares; infantry receive one share.
✔ Stronger fighters and weaker supporters are treated equally in overall distribution, as victory comes through the prayers and sincerity of the weak.
✔ Justice in distribution ensures unity and acknowledges every participant’s contribution to victory.
