Chapter on Spoils Specially Belonging to the Imam (Anfal)

Ali ibn al-Hasan, from Sindi ibn Muhammad, from Ala, from Muhammad ibn Muslim, from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, peace be upon him, who said: I (narrator) heard Imam عليه السلام saying: "Fay and the spoils (anfal) are whatever land there was in which there was no spilling of blood, and a people who made settlement and gave with their own hands, and whatever was from ruined land or the interiors of valleys, then all of it is from fay. So this belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى and to His Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family. Whatever belongs to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, then it belongs to His Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family; He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم places it wherever He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم wills. And it belongs to the Imam عليه السلام, peace be upon him, after the blessed Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family. And the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, 'As for the gains Allah سبحانه وتعالى has turned over to His Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم from them, that you did not (even) spur on any horse or camel for such gains'" (Surah Al-Hashr 59:6) Imam عليه السلام said: "Do you not see? It is this (Fay and the spoils). As for the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, ‘As for gains granted by Allah سبحانه وتعالى to His Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم from the people of (other) lands,' this is in the position of war booty. (Surah Al-Hashr 59:7) My father عليه السلام, peace be upon him, used to say, 'That, and we have nothing in it except two shares: the share of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم and the share of the near relative. Then we are partners with the people in what remains.'"