What constitutes the act of dispatching cavalry or transport animals (Ijf) regarding Fay' and Ghanimah?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Deposits
Primary text
Fay' is defined as wealth taken from a polytheist's property without any dispatching of cavalry or transport animals ('alāhu min khaylin walā rukābin). Ghanimah is what is acquired after dispatching them. 'Rikāb' specifically refers to camels. Ijf fundamentally means movement or stirring, but here it means actively moving towards the objective. Qatadah stated that it refers to traversing a valley or traveling by any means of conveyance to reach the property, citing the spoils of Banu Nadir, which Allah made food for the Messenger of Allah without such mobilization. The term generally implies speed (Isrā'), or a pace slower than a full gallop.
Supporting text
All property taken from a polytheist without such mobilization (Ijf), such as wealth left due to flight from Muslims, is Fay'. Conversely, what the Muslims actively marched upon and fought for is Ghanimah, irrespective of whether it was taken by force ('anwah) or if the inhabitants surrendered under a truce (Aman). The spoils of Khaybar, which included both categories (conquered by force and those who surrendered by truce), were all considered Ghanimah.