We read in another Hadith in the book “Al-Aghd Al-Fareed” that Prophet (s.

We read in another Hadith in the book “Al-Aghd Al-Fareed” that Prophet (s.a.) wrote a letter to Wael ibn Hajr Hadhrami: “From Mohammad Prophet of Allah to chieftains of Abahela …” to the point that said: “and there is Khums in Soyoob”.2 1- Usd Al-Ghaba, vol. 3, page 38. 2- Al-Aghd Al-Fareed, vol. 2, page 48, printed by Ismaelian.

We read in footnote of the book “Al-Aghd Al-Fareed” after quoting the Hadith above that “Soyoob” is plural form of “Sayb” that means assets which had been remained as treasures from the time of ignorance or mines, because they consider as divine gifts. But we read in “Qamoos” which is one of famous Arabic dictionaries that: Mainly “Sayb” means any kind of gift and benefaction and “Soyoob” is in the meaning of “Rekaz” (treasures and mines).

If we consider “Sayb” in the meaning of any kind of gift and benefaction and the purpose is divine gift and benefaction, it consists of all incomes and according to that Khums should be paid in all of them; and if we consider it as the exclusive meaning of mines and treasures, it also proves that Khums is obligatory in other than spoils of war and it is not exclusive to spoils of war.

Opinion of Commentators Lots of commentators who have discussed about this verse explicitly confessed that Advantage (غنيمت) has mainly a vast meaning and consists of spoils of war and other than them and generally all that a person could gain without hardship. Even those who consider this verse exclusive to spoils of war confess that there is no such a limitation in its main meaning, but for another reason its meaning has been limited.

“Ghartabi”, famous Sonni commentator, writes below this verse in his interpretation: “Literally, “advantage” (غنيمت) is the thing that a person or a group of people gain with endeavor … and know that the consensus (of Sonni scholars) is that the meaning of advantage (غنيمت) in the verse “ وَ اعْلَمُوا اَنَّما غَنِمْتُمْ” is assets which reach Muslims by fight and victory over infidels, but it should be considered that this limitation is not in its literal meaning as we said before, but this bond has been set in the common law of religion”.

“Fakhr Raazi” affirms in his interpretation that: “ الغنم الفوز بالشيء (advantage is that a person gains something”. And then after expressing this vast literal meaning adds: “Religious meaning of advantage ( غنيمت) (in opinion of Sonni scholars) is spoils of war”.

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