(B) The History Of Khums
“Khumsisone ofthosethingswhichwasintroducedbyAbdu'l-Mut- talib, the grandfather of the Prophet, and continued in Islam. Acting uponacommandofGodgiventohimindream,whenAbdu'l-Muttalib
rediscoveredthe wellof Zamzam,hefound initmany valuablethings
whichwereburiedinitintheveryremotepastbytheIsmailites when
theyfearedthat theirenemieswouldusurpthem.WhenAbdu 'l-Mut- talibfoundthatburiedtreasure,hegaveawayone-fifth(literally,khums) inthewayofGodandkepttheremainingfour-fifthstohimself.Thenit becameacustom inhis family;andafter the hijrahof the Prophet,the samesystem wasincorporated in Islam.Thusthe first khumswasnot givenfromthespoilsofwar',butfromaburiedtreasure(whichisone
of the seven items eligible for khums.)