Islam > Hadiths > Jurisprudence and juristic principles > Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
Authenticity grade : Its chain of narrators is Sahih/Authentic.Updated on 24 September 2026 at 12:34 AM
📖 1 min readعن عبد الله بن أبي أوفى قال: قلت: "هل كنتم تُخَمِّسُون -يعني الطعام- في عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ؟ فقال: «أصبنا طعامًا يوم خَيبر، فكان الرجلُ يَجيء فَيَأخذُ مِنه مِقدارَ ما يَكفيه، ثم يَنْصَرِف».
It was reported about ‘Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa that he was asked (by Muhammad ibn Abi Mujāhid): "Were you people setting aside one-fifth of the spoils of war - meaning the food - during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" He replied: "We got some food on the Day of Khaybar. A man would come and take the amount he needed from it then go away."
According to this Hadīth, if a Muslim fighter needs to eat from the food seized as spoils of war, he may do so but without storing any of it. Rather, he eats as much as he needs and leaves the rest. Keeping food beyond his need in reserve is considered unlawful appropriation of the spoils of war, but eating his need of it is not appropriation. This forbiddance only applies to what he takes exclusively for himself apart from his fellow fighters.
As to what he shares with them of food and fruit, there is no harm on him in taking his lawful share from it.
Categories : Rulings and Issues of Jihad