۞ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّمَا غَنِمْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَأَنَّ لِلَّهِ خُمُسَهُۥ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ إِن كُنتُمْ ءَامَنتُم بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا يَوْمَ ٱلْفُرْقَانِ يَوْمَ ٱلْتَقَى ٱلْجَمْعَانِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 41
Translations
And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allāh is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allāh and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion [i.e., decisive encounter] - the day when the two armies met [at Badr]. And Allāh, over all things, is competent.
Transliteration
Wa'lamū anna-mā ghanimtum min shay'in fa-anna lillāhi khumusahu wa-lir-rasūli wa-li-dhī al-qurbā wa-al-yatāmā wa-al-masākīn wa-ibni as-sabīl in kuntum āmantum billāhi wa-mā anzalnā 'alā 'abdina yawma al-furqān yawma al-taqā al-jam'ān wa-allāhu 'alā kulli shay'in qadīr
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes the distribution of spoils of war (ghanimah) taken in battle, allocating one-fifth to Allah (i.e., the state treasury and public welfare), with the remaining four-fifths distributed to the warriors. The one-fifth share is further divided among six categories: the Messenger, his close relatives (Ahl al-Bayt), orphans, the poor, and wayfarers. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this divine law reinforces that victory comes from Allah alone and ensures equitable distribution of war gains while supporting vulnerable members of society.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period following the Battle of Badr (2 AH), the first major military victory of the Muslims. This ayah specifically references 'the Day of Discernment' (Yawm al-Furqān), another name for the Battle of Badr where the Muslims defeated the Quraysh despite being outnumbered. The ayah was revealed to establish clear rules for dividing spoils and prevent disputes among the believers.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 2754: Narrated Ibn 'Abbas regarding the distribution of khums (one-fifth), confirming the five categories of recipients and their respective shares. Sunan Abu Dawud 2717: Hadith about the distribution of war booty according to the Quranic allocation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers are reminded that all worldly gains ultimately belong to Allah and should be used justly, with special care for the poor, orphans, and vulnerable members of society. True faith in Allah is demonstrated through equitable sharing and compassion toward those in need, transforming material gain into a means of social cohesion and spiritual growth.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ يَعِدُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ إِحْدَى ٱلطَّآئِفَتَيْنِ أَنَّهَا لَكُمْ وَتَوَدُّونَ أَنَّ غَيْرَ ذَاتِ ٱلشَّوْكَةِ تَكُونُ لَكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ بِكَلِمَـٰتِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعَ دَابِرَ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
[Remember, O believers], when Allāh promised you one of the two groups - that it would be yours - and you wished that the unarmed one would be yours. But Allāh intended to establish the truth by His words and to eliminate the disbelievers
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تَخُونُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوٓا۟ أَمَـٰنَـٰتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O you who have believed, do not betray Allāh and the Messenger or betray your trusts while you know [the consequence].
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ۖ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ ٱلْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِۦ وَأَنَّهُۥٓ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
O you who have believed, respond to Allāh and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allāh intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.
فَإِمَّا تَثْقَفَنَّهُمْ فِى ٱلْحَرْبِ فَشَرِّدْ بِهِم مَّنْ خَلْفَهُمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
So if you, [O Muḥammad], gain dominance over them in war, disperse by [means of] them those behind them that perhaps they will be reminded.