The reports of Umar indicate that all Muslims have a right in the Fay'; for when he recited the verse in Surah al-Hashr, he said: 'This verse encompasses all Muslims.' He assigned a portion of it to the shepherd in Sarw Himyar, and said: 'There is no one who does not have a portion in this wealth' (15). As for the wealth of Banu al-Nadir, it is possible that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to spend from it on his family, because that is among the most important of interests, so he began with them, then (16) he made the remainder equal to the rest of the wealth. It is also possible that the wealth of Banu al-Nadir was something the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, singled out for himself from the Fay', and left the rest for those named in the verse. This is clarified in the statement of Umar: 'It was for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, exclusively, to the exclusion of the Muslims.'

Section: The Rightly Guided Caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them, differed regarding the distribution of the Fay' among its beneficiaries. Abu Bakr al-Siddiq (17), may Allah be pleased with him, held the position of equality among them in it. This is the well-known position of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. It is narrated that Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, practiced equality among the people in the distribution and included the slaves. Umar said to him: 'O Caliph of the Messenger of Allah, will you equate those who fought in the cause of Allah with their wealth and their lives and migrated from their homes for His sake, with those who only entered Islam by force!' Abu Bakr replied: 'They worked for Allah, and their rewards are with Allah, and the worldly life is only a provision.' When Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, took charge, he prioritized some over others and excluded the slaves. When Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, took charge, he practiced equality among them and excluded the slaves. It is mentioned from Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, that he prioritized some over others in the distribution (18). Based on this, the position of two of them, Abu Bakr and Ali, is equality, and the position of two, Umar and Uthman, is prioritization. It is narrated from Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, that he permitted both matters, according to what is deemed appropriate by...