Giving one-fifth of the war booty (Al-Khumus) as an act of Faith.
Description:
What does war booty have to do with internal faith? In Sahih al-Bukhari 53, we see the final part of the Prophet’s (ﷺ) instructions to the people of 'Abdul-Qais. After listing the four pillars (Salah, Zakat, Fasting, and Tawheed), he adds a fifth requirement: paying the Khumus.
At that time, the 'Abdul-Qais tribe lived in a state of constant conflict with surrounding pagan tribes. By commanding them to give one-fifth of what they gained in battle to the Islamic treasury, the Prophet (ﷺ) was testing their loyalty to Allah over their love for worldly gains.
The "Do" List for 'Abdul-Qais:
Tawheed: Testifying that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah.
Salah: Establishing the five daily prayers.
Zakat: Paying the obligatory charity.
Sawm: Fasting the month of Ramadan.
Khumus: Giving one-fifth of the war booty (Ghanimah).
Key Lessons & Insights:
Faith is Comprehensive: By including Khumus in a list of spiritual duties like Prayer and Fasting, the Prophet (ﷺ) showed that Iman covers all aspects of life—social, financial, and even military.
Detachment from Wealth: True belief requires a person to be willing to part with their hard-earned gains for the sake of the Ummah and the cause of Allah.
Context of the Command: The 'Abdul-Qais could only travel during the sacred months. This instruction gave them a "portable" version of Islam they could implement in their distant land to stay connected to the center of Islam (Medina).
Why it's in the "Book of Belief": Imam al-Bukhari uses this to emphasize that the definition of "Faith" includes whatever Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ) make obligatory.
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