Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
The ruler (imam) is entitled to a special share (sahm al-safī) from the war booty, in addition to his normal soldier’s share which is equal to any other fighter.
➊ Letter of the Prophet ﷺ
Hazrat Yazid bin Abdullah reported:
A man came to us in Marbad with a piece of leather on which was written:
«إنكم إن شهدتم أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله ﷺ وأقمتم الصلاة وآتيتم الزكاة وأديتم الخمس من المغنم وسهم النبي ﷺ وسهم الصفى فأنتم آمنون بأمان الله ورسوله»
“If you testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger, establish prayer, pay zakah, give the khums from war booty, along with the Prophet’s ﷺ share and the special share (safī), then you are secure in the protection of Allah and His Messenger.”
When asked who wrote this, they said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself.”
[Sahih: Abu Dawud 2592, 299; al-Nasa’i 7/134; Ahmad 5/77]
➋ Hadith of Aishah (RA):
«كانت صفية من الصفى»
“Safiyyah (RA) was taken from the Prophet’s special share (safī).”
[Sahih: Abu Dawud 2592, 2994; Ibn Hibban 4822; al-Hakim 2/128; al-Bayhaqi 6/304]
➌ The Case of Safiyyah bint Huyayy (RA):
When the captives of Khaybar were gathered, Dihyah al-Kalbi (RA) requested a slave girl from among them. The Prophet ﷺ told him: “Go and take one.” He chose Safiyyah bint Huyayy.
A man reported this to the Prophet ﷺ, saying: “You gave Dihyah the daughter of the chief of Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayzah, and she is only fitting for you, O Messenger of Allah.”
The Prophet ﷺ called for her, saw her, and then told Dihyah: “Take another woman instead.”
The Prophet ﷺ then freed Safiyyah (RA) and married her.
[Bukhari 371; Muslim 1365; Abu Dawud 2998; al-Nasa’i 6/131; Ahmad 3/101, 186]
Another narration adds:
«أنه اشتراها منه بسبعة أروس»
“The Prophet ﷺ purchased her from Dihyah in exchange for seven slaves.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2590, 2997; Ibn Majah 2272]
Imam al-Shawkani (رحمه الله) said:
“These narrations prove that it is permissible for the imam (ruler) to select something exclusively for himself from the war booty, in which no one else shares.”
[Nayl al-Awtar 5/37-38]
✔ The Prophet ﷺ had the right to a special share (safī) from the booty, in addition to his equal share as a member of the army.
✔ This was exercised, for example, in taking Safiyyah (RA) as part of his safī.
✔ Scholars deduce from this that the imam may, with justification, take a specific item from war booty as his exclusive portion.
✿ General Rule
The ruler (imam) is entitled to a special share (sahm al-safī) from the war booty, in addition to his normal soldier’s share which is equal to any other fighter.
✿ Evidences from the Sunnah
➊ Letter of the Prophet ﷺ
Hazrat Yazid bin Abdullah reported:
A man came to us in Marbad with a piece of leather on which was written:
«إنكم إن شهدتم أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله ﷺ وأقمتم الصلاة وآتيتم الزكاة وأديتم الخمس من المغنم وسهم النبي ﷺ وسهم الصفى فأنتم آمنون بأمان الله ورسوله»
“If you testify that there is no deity but Allah and Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger, establish prayer, pay zakah, give the khums from war booty, along with the Prophet’s ﷺ share and the special share (safī), then you are secure in the protection of Allah and His Messenger.”
When asked who wrote this, they said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ himself.”
[Sahih: Abu Dawud 2592, 299; al-Nasa’i 7/134; Ahmad 5/77]
➋ Hadith of Aishah (RA):
«كانت صفية من الصفى»
“Safiyyah (RA) was taken from the Prophet’s special share (safī).”
[Sahih: Abu Dawud 2592, 2994; Ibn Hibban 4822; al-Hakim 2/128; al-Bayhaqi 6/304]
➌ The Case of Safiyyah bint Huyayy (RA):
When the captives of Khaybar were gathered, Dihyah al-Kalbi (RA) requested a slave girl from among them. The Prophet ﷺ told him: “Go and take one.” He chose Safiyyah bint Huyayy.
A man reported this to the Prophet ﷺ, saying: “You gave Dihyah the daughter of the chief of Banu Nadir and Banu Qurayzah, and she is only fitting for you, O Messenger of Allah.”
The Prophet ﷺ called for her, saw her, and then told Dihyah: “Take another woman instead.”
The Prophet ﷺ then freed Safiyyah (RA) and married her.
[Bukhari 371; Muslim 1365; Abu Dawud 2998; al-Nasa’i 6/131; Ahmad 3/101, 186]
Another narration adds:
«أنه اشتراها منه بسبعة أروس»
“The Prophet ﷺ purchased her from Dihyah in exchange for seven slaves.”
[Sahih Abu Dawud 2590, 2997; Ibn Majah 2272]
✿ Scholarly Explanation
Imam al-Shawkani (رحمه الله) said:
“These narrations prove that it is permissible for the imam (ruler) to select something exclusively for himself from the war booty, in which no one else shares.”
[Nayl al-Awtar 5/37-38]
✿ Conclusion
✔ The Prophet ﷺ had the right to a special share (safī) from the booty, in addition to his equal share as a member of the army.
✔ This was exercised, for example, in taking Safiyyah (RA) as part of his safī.
✔ Scholars deduce from this that the imam may, with justification, take a specific item from war booty as his exclusive portion.
