88 chapter two
These avenues of distribution are not mentioned in the verses of the
Fai"or the one-fifth of the Ghanìmah. On the other hand, the Qur"ànic
verses of distributing the Fai"and the one fifth of Ghanìmah have
specified kinds of distribution that are not incorporated in the Zakàh
distribution. No share has been specified to “God, His Messenger,
the Messenger kinsfolk” in the Zakàh distribution nor has a share
to the orphans been designated in it. These are covered from the
revenue of the Fai"and the one-fifth of the Ghanìmah, not directly
from Zakàh revenue.
The difference between the distribution of Zakàh revenue on the
one hand and that of the Fai"and the one-fifth of Ghanìmahon the
other seems to be related to the characteristics of the revenue of
each. Zakàh has more general characteristics than the others. The
“generality” of Zakàh is demonstrated in that its base is not specifically
tied up to the consequences of military actions as in the case of the
Fai"and the one fifth of the Ghanìmah. Instead, it is based on the
every day occurrence of economic activities that influences wealth
and income and contributes in its turn to the amount of fund raised.
As such, Zakàh guarantees an important prerequisite to the state
revenue-continuity which, with stability, grants the state a reliable
source of income. The two features of continuity and stability have
influenced the way the revenue from the tax is distributed. They
have made it so much wider than that of the Fai"and the one-fifth
of Ghanìmahthat the removal of indebtedness and the liberation of
slaves are included in it. In contrast to Zakàh, Fai"and the one-fifth
of Ghanìmahwere the result of a specified action, war, and as such
their revenues were generated from a source that was less general
than that of Zakàh. The distribution would therefore reflect this
attribute. Furthermore, as the spoils were gained in Holy war, jihàd,
which was ordained by God and conducted by His Messenger, it
was conceivable that God and His Messenger be assigned a share
of the spoils; the share of God to be spent on social welfare pur-
poses and the share of the Prophet to be spent on himself and his
kinsfolk. Also, the specific mention of the orphans in the distribu-
tion of Fai"and one-fifth of Ghanìmah reflects the fact that in war
the loss of life is almost inevitable and the avoidance of the result-
ing orphanage is virtually impossible. There was a need therefore
for a special stipulation of the right of orphans to the spoils of war.