that they are all returned to the poor, and the poor person according to them is one who does not possess a nisab (minimum threshold for Zakat). Our argument is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Charity is not lawful for a wealthy person except for five: a warrior in the way of Allah, or a debtor," and he mentioned the rest of them. Furthermore, Allah the Almighty designated the poor and the needy as two categories and counted six other categories after them; thus, it is not required that the characteristic of those two categories be present in the remaining categories, just as it is not required that the characteristic of the other categories be present in those two. Also, this person takes [the Zakat] because we are in need of him, so he is like the worker and the one whose heart is to be reconciled; whereas regarding those in the other categories, the poverty of the one who takes it is considered due to his need for it, unlike one who takes it due to our need for him. Once this is established, whoever says that he intends to wage war, his statement is accepted, because it is not possible to establish evidence for his intention. He is given the amount of his sufficiency for his provisions, the purchase of weapons, and a horse—if he is a cavalryman—as well as his baggage, armor, clothing, and all that he needs for his expedition, even if that is significant. It is given to him in a measured manner, and if he does not go on the expedition, he must return it, because he took it under that condition. If he goes on the expedition and returns, he has acquired what he took, because we gave him the amount of sufficiency, and he only constricted himself [by not spending it all]. If he departs for the expedition but returns from the path, or does not complete the expedition for which he was given the funds, he must return what remains with him, because he did not perform the [full task] for which he took the funds.

Section: This share is only deserved by warriors who have no entitlement in the military registry (diwan), and who volunteer for the expedition when they are energetic. Ahmad said: "He is given the price of the horse, and the one distributing the Zakat does not take charge of purchasing the horse himself, because the obligation is to give the Zakat, and if he purchases it himself, he has only given a horse." The same rule applies to the purchase of weapons and provisions. He said in another place: "If he pays the price of the horse and the price of the sword, that is more pleasing to me, and if he purchases it himself, I hope that it suffices." He also said: