`ONE FIFTH' AN IMPORTANT COMMANDMENT (VERSE NO. 41)

      In the battle of Badr a lot of booties were captured, and created a hot dispute among Muslims that what was to be done with the stuff?

      So the above verse was revealed to give the know how, about the spoils of war. According to the verse, one fifth share is set apart to be at the disposal of the General Commander of forces, who in this case was our prophet; and the other four fifth was to be divided among the Islamic forces.

      The one fifth share reserved is for God, His Messenger, and charitable purpose, for those mentioned in the verse to whom the charity is due. But ultimately everything is at the disposal of God and His Messenger. In the prophet's life time, a certain portion of the one fifth of the booties was assigned to the near relatives of the apostle. Here a few notes are to be considered:

1- THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN TRUTH AND FALSITY

      In the Muslim theology the battle of Badr is called, `FORGHطN' which may be translated to: Distinction, Separation or sorting out, because it was the first trail of strength by fight in Islam between the foes of good and evil. In that battle of distinction, evil was defeated and the true believers were sorted out. In that day of destiny, the truthfulness of the prophet was also proved, because he had been promised by God that, he would have a glorious victory over his enemies.

2- The encounter of Badr, was also a great gift of God given to Muslims,

The encounter of Badr, was also a great gift of God given to Muslims, who at first avoided to proceed, but the consequences of the fight gave them a nice forward jump, and also a base for their future victories.

3- We have already mentioned in commenting verse No.

     We have already mentioned in commenting verse No. S 8:1 that in our religious jurisprudence, the term, `SPOILS' is a common noun which also consists of the, `BOOTIES' of war which are ultimately at disposal of God and His Messenger. God's Messenger divided four fifth of the booties among his forces, and retained the rest of one fifth for special purposes. Therefore it is not correct to think that the verse No. S 8: 41 has abrogated or annuled the verse No. S 8: 1

4- WHO ARE THE NEAR RELATIVES?

      There are many traditions related by successive witnesses of Sonnies and Shiites; that by the `NEAR RELATIVE', the relatives of the prophet (NOWADAYS CALLED SAYYED) are not meant. If so, Islam will go under the question for racial distinction! What advantage and superiority the prophet's then relatives, and now offsprings, can have over the Muslims? Islam has deeply considered the cases of the orphans, wayfarer, the poor and needy of the community. There are two public purses to make for these social needs. One of the purses is fed by the One fifth of the spoils, and the other by the alms- tax or the tithe; which may amount to one tenth. These two sources of help are technically termed, `KHOMS and ZAKOT'.

      To be fed of the purse of ZAKOT, is declared unlawful for the prophet's relatives. So they may have their share of financial support from the purse of Khoms.

WHAT IS MEANT BY THE PHRASE, `WHATEVER YOU OBTAIN!'

      Most of the Sonni commentators have understood the above phrases in the verse No. 41 to mean, all that you have obtained in a sacred war (JIHAD) as booties and spoils of war, and nothing else; but almost all the Shiite commentators have understood it to mean, whatever you earn from all sources of income, such as your salary, trading profits, from minning minerals, fishing and diving and your income from any occupation.