INTRODUCTION

      This SUREH, that consists of 75 verses, revealed in Medina soon after the Battle of Badr, fought on Friday, 17th Ramazan, in the second year of HIJRAT. This was the first encounter of Muslims with the pagans and polytheists. Here the question of spoils and in particular Booty of war, has been answered. Virtues necessary for a righteous and sacred fight are mentioned. The victory which may come from God against all odds has been described. The event of that historical night at which the prophet emigrated to Medina has been narrated. The situation of the polytheists and their superstitions during the Pagan Era, has been pointed to. The rules of actions and conducts, concerning the captives of war are given too.

WHAT IS MEANT BY SPOILS (VERSE NO. 1)

      Spoils is a common term in the Law, for anything that has not a known owner, such as a piece of land left unattended by its farmer inhabitants, or a heritage that has not a legal heir, or wastes and unutilized lands. The Booty taken at a righteous war too, is counted as spoils, though it is treated as a special case:

      ``They ask you concerning the spoils? Say: `The spoils belong to God and the Messenger.''

      Spoils belong to God, and are administered by His Messenger, and no Muslim has the right to object or to argue on that.

      As regards Booty, taken in a lawful and just war, it too, belongs not to any individual soldier or troops. The Booty should never be the object and aim of warrior, and therefore the soldier and troops have not any inherent right to it. In other word, a righteous war is of the community affair, and any accession or gain from it belongs to the community or the cause, which must be God; if the war is to be considered lawful and righteous - as the community is to suffer its bad consequences too. Therefore any portion given to an individual or group, should be considered as the gift or present of the commander, which in the Battle of Badr was the prophet. So there should strictly be no dispute among the warriors about division of the Booty which may interfere with internal discipline, and impair the harmony. In other word; the wordly considerations of gain in the wars that are lawful and righteous, should stand outside the warrior's reckoning and forecasts.