Al-Hashr: 6–7
{What Allah restored to His Messenger}
He made it exclusively for him as fay’ (spoils taken without fighting). Al-ijaf is derived from al-wajif, which is rapid movement. From this is the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding the departure from Arafat: "Righteousness is not in the rapid movement (ijaf) of horses nor the swift riding (ida’) of camels; proceed at your ease."
The meaning of {that for which you did not urge on} is: you did not urge on horses or camels to acquire or capture it, nor did you tire yourselves in fighting for it; rather, you walked to it on foot. The meaning is that the wealth of Banu al-Nadir, which Allah granted to His Messenger, was something you did not obtain through combat and conquest. Instead, Allah gave him authority over them and what they possessed, just as He gave His messengers authority over their enemies. Therefore, the matter was delegated to him to place it where he willed. This means it was not to be divided like the spoils of war that are fought for and taken by force and coercion. They had requested a division, so this verse was revealed.
The conjunction (wa) was not added to this sentence because it is an explanation of the first, and thus not foreign to it. Allah clarified to His Messenger (peace be upon him) what to do with what He restored to him, commanding him to distribute it as the khums (one-fifth) of spoils is distributed, divided into the five categories.
{And that it may not circulate}
Al-dawla and al-dula (with fatha and damma)—both readings exist—refer to what rotates for a person, meaning what turns in terms of fortune. It is said: "The dawla (turn of fortune) has come to him," and "He has been granted the dawla."
The meaning of the Almighty’s saying: {that it may not circulate among the rich among you} is: so that the fay’, which is rightfully for the poor to provide them with a livelihood, does not become something that circulates among the rich, increasing their wealth. Or, it means so that it does not become a "Jahiliyya circulation" among them. The "Jahiliyya circulation" means that their leaders used to seize the spoils because they were the people of status, power, and dominance, saying: "He who is mighty, prevails." The meaning is: so that its acquisition is not through dominance and its appropriation is not in the manner of the Jahiliyya. From this is the saying of al-Hasan: "They treated the servants of Allah as slaves and the wealth of Allah as dulan (circulating among themselves)," meaning: whoever among them was stronger took it and appropriated it.
It is also said that al-dawla is that which is circulated, like al-ghurfa (the name for what is scooped). It means: so that the fay’ does not become something the rich circulate and pass among themselves, leaving nothing for the poor. Al-dawla with fatha signifies the act of circulation, meaning: so that there is no circulation of it among them. Or, so that their withholding of it does not become a circulation among them, failing to distribute it to the poor. It is also read as dula (nominative) based on kana being complete (intransitive), as in the Almighty’s saying: "And if he is in hardship," meaning: so that a Jahiliyya circulation does not occur, or so that its influence is cut off, or so that it is not something passed among them without being given to the poor.
{And whatever the Messenger has given you}
...of the division of spoils or fay’, {take it; and whatever he has forbidden you} from taking, {refrain from it} and do not let your souls pursue it. {And fear Allah}—that you should oppose him or be negligent of his commands and prohibitions—{indeed, Allah is severe in penalty} for whoever opposes His Messenger. It is better that this be general, applying to everything the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) brought and forbade, and the matter of fay’ is included in its generality.
It is narrated from Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) that he met a man in ihram wearing his clothes and said to him: "Take this off." The man said: "Recite to me a verse from the Book of Allah regarding this." He said: "Yes," and recited this verse to him.
{For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] approval and supporting Allah and His Messenger, [there are] the truthful.}
