It was reported about ‘Abdullāh ibn Abi Awfa that he was asked (by Muhammad ibn Abi Mujāhid): "Were you people setting aside one-fifth of the spoils of war – meaning the food – during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him)?" He replied: "We got some food on the Day of Khaybar. A man would come and take the amount he needed from it then go away."
Reported by Abu Dawud (No. 2704). Cited in Mishkat al-Masabih (No. 4020).
According to this Hadīth, if a Muslim fighter needs to eat from the food seized as spoils of war, he may do so but without storing any of it. Rather, he eats as much as he needs and leaves the rest. Keeping food beyond his need in reserve is considered unlawful appropriation of the spoils of war, but eating his need of it is not appropriation. This forbiddance only applies to what he takes exclusively for himself apart from his fellow fighters. As to what he shares with them of food and fruit, there is no harm on him in taking his lawful share from it.
Explanation in Arabic
دل الحديث على أن المجاهد إذا احتاج إلى الأكل مما جمع من طعام الغنائم فله ذلك، دون أن يدّخِره، بل يأكل منه حاجته دون زيادة ثم ينصرف، أما ادخاره فهذا غلول، لكن الأكل منه بقدر الحاجة ليس بغلول، وإنما نُهي عن الأخذ من الغنيمة بحيث ينفرد به عن إخوانه المجاهدين، أما ما يشاركه فيه غيره من الطعام والفاكهة فلا حرج فيه.
جواز أخذ الطَّعام اليسير من المغنم قبل القسمة.
أنَّ أخذ هذه الأشياء ليس من الغلول المحرَّم المنهي عنه.
Scholars’ grades
Original grading term, without a named scholar: إسناده صحيح
