that which you mentioned for them, there will not remain anything significant for the rest of your companions. Then this verse was revealed: 'They ask you about the spoils of war.' The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) divided them among the Emigrants (Muhajirun) and the Helpers (Ansar)."

Qatada said: The Anfal are the spoils of war. The meaning of His statement 'are for Allah and the Messenger' is: all of that belongs to Allah, and He assigned its ruling to His Messenger.

Muhammad said: The singular of Anfal is nafal. From this is the saying of Labid:

(Indeed, the piety of our Lord is the best nafal [extra merit] … and by the permission of Allah is my slowness and my haste.)

Surat al-Anfal from verse (2) to verse (4).