What's the difference between the viewpoint of Shia and Sunni about Khums? And why?
Although the verse from which the rule of Khums is clear, the idea of Shia and Sunni about this rule is completely different.
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Sign up to join this communityThe verse of Khums is:
"And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion - the day when the two armies met. And Allah , over all things, is competent."(Surat Al-'Anfāl,verse41)
Difference between the viewpoint of Shia and Sunni about Khums comes from their different interpretation.
The differences are:
In the Sunni view Khums is just for spoils of war but in the Shia view. It is an ongoing subject and isn't specific to war.
The portion of Khums usage. Shias divide khums in 6 parts but Sunnis divide them in 5. Shias divide them to 6 for
But the Sunni view says that the name of Allah in the said verse is for respect and doesn't need any share, so they divide Khums among other 5 groups except Allah.
Khums usage. Sunni pay share of Prophet to
But Shia pay 3 share (share of Allah, Prophet and his relatives) for public benefits and pay other 3 share for orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler.
Value of khums. Shias count it as one of 10 Furoo-e-deen but Sunnis count it as Furoo-e-Jahad. So value of khums in Shia view is much more than Sunni value for khums.
Reference in Persian: tahoor encyclopedia
I'll mention both views (Shia and Sunni) in this answer:
Both the Shia and Sunni agree that the verse 41 in Surah al-Anfal orders Muslims to give fifth of the goods to whoever mentioned in this verse:
And know that anything you obtain of war booty - then indeed, for Allah is one fifth of it and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and the orphans, the needy, and the [stranded] traveler, if you have believed in Allah and in that which We sent down to Our Servant on the day of criterion - the day when the two armies met. And Allah, over all things, is competent.
Shia believe that the khumus should be taken from every adult working Muslim who has income/source of money after 1 year from receiving that revenue/salary (e.g.: salary after a year, rent after a year, revenue from trade etc...) 4/5 belongs to the working adult and 1/5 goes to others (mentioned below).
Khumus can be taken from these 7 materials:
Khumus should be paid to two main categories:
Sunni believe that Khumus should be received from a Muslim soldier who has taken some goods as war booty.
Khumus is taken from any war booty found in the battle (e.g.: Horse, Armor, sword, etc...)
Khumus should be paid just as Allah mentioned in the verse:(4/5 goes to that soldier and 1/5 is distributed equally between those mentioned in the ayah)