Do military personnel sent ahead, such as messengers, scouts, vanguard, or spies, receive a share of the spoils?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Jihad

Book 54 · Issue 10 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Personnel sent for the benefit of the army, such as the messenger, the guide, the vanguard, the spy, and others of their kind, participate in the spoils with the army. This view is held by Abu Bakr bin Abi Maryam, Rashid bin Sa'd, and 'Atiyyah bin Qays. Evidence is found in the incident of Uthman on the Day of Badr; he remained behind on the instruction of the Prophet, peace be upon him, to attend to his sick wife, and the Prophet assigned him a share of the spoils, stating that he had the reward and share of a man who witnessed Badr. This is because his absence was for a matter beneficial to the army and the Messenger of Allah, thus establishing his right to a share from their spoils, analogous to a detachment sharing with the main army.