The Fay’, al-Anfal, al-Khums, its rules and the properties subject to al-Khums

“In one of the meetings of abu al-Hassan Musa (a.s.) with al-Mahdi (one of ‘Abbassid ruler) the Imam found him paying reparations (for the damages caused to people). The Imam (a.s.) said, “O Amir al-Mu’minin, what has happened to the reparations due to us?” He then asked, “What damage is caused to you O abu al-Hassan ?” He (the Imam (a.s.) said, “Allah, the Holy, the Most High, granted victory to His Holy Prophet (s.a) and the land of Fadak and its surrounding areas came under his control without any armed struggle Allah sent a message to His the Holy Prophet (s.a). It said, “Give the relatives their rights.” The Messenger of Allah did not know who they were. He turned to Jibril to find out and Jibril turned to his Lord for the answer. Allah then sent revelation to him to give possession of Fadak to Fatima (a.s.). Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah called Fatima and said to her. “O Fatima (a.s.) Allah has commanded me to give possession of Fadak to you. She then said, “ O the Messenger of Allah, I have accepted the offer from Allah and from you.” Thereafter her representatives lived there during the life time of the Messenger of Allah. When abu Bakr took control he expelled her representatives therefrom. She went to abu Bakr and asked him to reverse his decision and return Fadak to her but he said to Fatima (a.s.), “Bring to a black or white to testify that Fadak belonged to you.” Fatima (a.s.) brought Amir al-Mu’minin Ali (a.s.) and ’Umm Ayman who both testified in favor of Fatima (a.s.). He then wrote, “Fatima must not be disturbed in the matters of Fadak.” Fatima then left with the document. On the way ‘Umar came from the opposite direction and asked, “What is it in your hand O daughter of Muhammad?” Fatima (a.s.) said, “It is a document that ibn abu Quhafa has written for me.” He said, “Show it to me.” Fatima refused to hand it over to him but he snatched it away from her hand and read it. He then spit on it wiped out its writing and tore it into pieces. He said, “This was not captured by forces of the camels and horses of your father so that you can tie the rope around our necks.” Al-Mahdi said, “O abu al-Hassan define for me the boundaries of Fadak.” The Imam (a.s.) said, “On one side it borders the mountain of ’Uhud. On the other side is ‘Arish Misr. Also it borders Sayf al-Bahr and on one of its sides is Dawmat al-Jandal.” Then he asked the Imams, “Is that all?” He said, “Yes, O Amir al-Mu’minin, this is all that came to the Messenger of Allah without the use of the forces of the camels and horses.” He said, “This is a large area but I will look into it.”