314 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMADAl-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja related the latter part of this, from a hadith of
al-Thawri, from 'Abd al-Rahmzn b. al-Harith. Al-Tirrnidhi stated, "This is a
hadith hasan,6' a 'good hadith'." Ibn Hibbzn related it in his jahih collection, as
did d-Hakim in his al-Mustadrak (The Compendsum) from a hadith of 'Abd
al-Ralpan. Al-Haim stated, "This is authentic according to the criteria of
Muslim, but he did not narrate this tradition."
Abii Da'ad, al-Nasali, Ibn Hibban and d-Hikim related, on various lines
from Daliid b. Aba Hind, from Clkrima, from Ihn <Ahbas, the following: "At the
battle of Badr, the Messenger of God (SAAS) stated, 'Those who have done so-
and-so shall receive such-and-such.' The younger men made haste to carry this
out, while the older men stayed near the banners. When the booty had been col-
lected the men gathered to claim their share. The older men asked that they not
be given less credit than the rest, saying they had acted as a safeguard against the
sudden attack by any enemy force. There was much dispute and so God
Almighty revealed, 'They ask you about the spoils. Say, "The spoils belong to
God and to His Messenger. So fear God, reconcile and obey God and His
Messenger, if you are indeed believers"'" (siirat al-Anf~l; VIII, v.1).
We have made extensive comments elsewhere, too lengthy to explore here, on
the reason for the revelation of this verse.
The meaning of the words is that decisions over the spoils devolve upon God
and His Messenger to judge in accord with the best interests of the worshippers
regarding this life and the after-life. The Almighty therefore stated, "The spoils
belong to God and to His Messenger. So fear God, reconcile and obey God and
His Messenger, if you are indeed believers."
He then went on to recount the events and outcome of the battle of Badr, con-
cluding, "And know that whatever thing you have taken as spoils of war, then
one-fifth of it is for God and for His Messenger and for the kinfolk, orphans, the
poor and wayfarers" (siirat al-Anf~l; VIII, v.41). It is evident that this verse
explains God's commands regarding the spoils of war which He has made sub-
ject to Himself and to His Prophet (SAAS). The Almighty has clarified and
determined this in accord with His wish. This is the view of Aha Zayd.
Abii Wbayd alLQsim b. Sdm, God bless him, claimed that the Messenger
of God (SAAS) divided up the booty taken at Badr equally between the men and
that he did not divide it into fifths. The edict relating to the division into fifths
was revealed after this, cancelling the previous practice.
Al-Walihi related this similarly, from Ibn 'Ahhas, and Mujahid, 'Ikrima and
al-Suddi attested to it. However, there is controversy over this. And God knows
best. The controversy relates to whether the above verses came prior to or fol-
lowing the verse referring to the division into fifths, since all relate to the battle
of Badr. It seems necessary to consider them to have been revealed all together
- Al-Timidhi used this term to define a hndith whose narrators were known to have defective
memories.