• 🌟 Support the Mission of Spreading Authentic Islamic Knowledge 🌟

    Tohed.com is dedicated to sharing the pure teachings of Islam based on the Qur’an & Sunnah.

    📦 Your donation = Sadaqah Jariyah!

    “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if small.” – Bukhari

Ruler’s Authority in Distribution of War Booty and Extra Shares (Nafl)

Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori


✿ The Ruler May Grant Extra Shares to Some Soldiers​


Hadith of Salamah bin al-Akwa‘ (RA):
«أعطاني رسول الله سهم الفارس وسهم الراجل فجعلهما لي جميعا»

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave me both the share of a horseman and a foot soldier, and combined them for me.”
[Muslim 1807; Abu Dawud 2752; Ahmad 4/52]


➋ On the day of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ granted Sa‘d bin Abi Waqqas (RA) a sword as an extra share.
[Muslim 1748; Ahmad 1/178; Abu Dawud 2740; Tirmidhi 3079; Nasa’i al-Kubra 6/348; al-Hakim 2/132]


✿ Extra Portions to Certain Detachments​


Hadith of Habib bin Maslamah (RA):
He said: “When I first joined a military expedition, the Prophet ﷺ gave us an extra fourth. The second time, he gave us an extra third.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2389, 2750; Ibn al-Jarud 1078; Ibn Hibban 11/4835; al-Hakim 2/133]


Hadith of Ibn ‘Umar (RA):
He said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent us on an expedition towards Najd. We obtained many camels as booty. Each man received twelve camels, and then an extra camel was added for each of us.”
[Bukhari 3135; Muslim 1749; Muwatta 2/450; Ahmad 2/62, 112; Abu Dawud 2744]


Hadith of Ibn ‘Umar (RA):
The Prophet ﷺ would sometimes give extra shares to specific detachments besides the normal distribution, and these were not included in the general allotment for the entire army.
[Bukhari 3135; Muslim 1750; Abu Dawud 3746; Ahmad 2/140]


📌 Note: Extra allotments (nafl) must only be given after extracting the khums (fifth).
[Nayl al-Awtar 5/33]


✿ Condition: Nafl Only After​


Hadith of Ma‘n bin Yazid (RA):
I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:


«لا نفل إلا بعد الخمس»
“No extra allotment is to be given except after the khums has been taken out.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2392, 2753-2754; Ahmad 3/470; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 2/342; al-Bayhaqi 6/314]


Hadith of Habib bin Maslamah (RA):
«كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ينفل الثلث بعد الخمس»

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to give an extra third after the khums had been taken.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2387, 2748; Ibn Majah 2853; Ahmad 4/159; ‘Abd al-Razzaq 9331; Sa‘id bin Mansur 2701; Ibn Hibban 4835; al-Tabarani al-Kabir 3518; al-Hakim 2/133; al-Bayhaqi 6/313; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 3/239]


✿ Summary​


✔ The ruler is permitted to grant extra shares (nafl) to individual fighters or detachments as a reward for bravery or special service.
✔ Such nafl must only be given after the khums is extracted from the war booty.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ himself granted extra shares (sword to Sa‘d RA, additional portions to detachments, double shares to Salamah RA).
✔ This system allowed recognition of effort while maintaining fairness in the general distribution.
 
Back
Top