Muhammad began his life in poverty, tending to sheep and camels without a steady occupation. Employed by Khadija as a shepherd, his income remained meager, just enough to cover basic needs in Arabian society at the time. His situation improved dramatically after marrying the prosperous merchant Khadija, granting him access to her considerable fortune. Historical accounts confirm that Muhammad worked as a shepherd and merchant before this union, marrying her at age 25 while she was 40.
As Muhammad shifted to claiming prophethood, questions arise about funding his expansive household, which included eleven wives and numerous slave women in a harem. No records show him engaging in trade, education, or regular employment to support this. Unlike typical individuals who contribute to society through skills like farming or craftsmanship in exchange for earnings, Muhammad displayed no such talents. Minor donations from Medina’s people would hardly suffice for his large family. Instead, his main revenue stream involved raiding non-believers, seizing their assets, and taking a cut from the plunder.
Modern adherents often portray Muhammad as living in dire poverty, even skipping meals. Yet this narrative clashes with his ability to maintain multiple marriages, slaves, and concubines. Without divine intervention dropping funds from the heavens, the logical source points to looting from attacks on non-believers, followed by claiming the khums share after their deaths.
Muhammad himself admitted this openly, stating his sustenance came from warfare. In one account, he declared, “My provision has been placed under the shadow of my spear.” He avoided conventional work, relying on battles and captured goods from opponents. His core activity centered on waging war and stripping possessions from those he deemed infidels.
From Hadith Sambhar, section 20 on Jihad, Hadith 1900, narrated by Ibn Umar: “I have been sent with the sword just before the Hour so that Allah is worshipped alone without partners. My provision has been placed under the shadow of my spear. Humiliation and lowliness will be upon whoever opposes my command, and whoever imitates a people is one of them.” (References: Ahmad 5114-5115, 5667; Shu’ab al-Iman 98; Sahih al-Jami’ 2831).
Another related narration from Sahih Bukhari, chapter 56 on jihad and wartime conduct, section 56/22 Mughira ibn Shu’ba reported Muhammad saying those martyred enter paradise. Umar inquired if the slain opponents go to hell, and Muhammad affirmed yes. Then, hadith 2818 from Abdullah ibn Abu Awfa: “Know that Paradise is under the shades of swords.” (Cross-references: 2833, 2966, 3024, 7237; Muslim 32/6 hadith 1742; Ahmad 19136. Modern publication: 2608; Islamic Foundation: 2620).
Sura Al-Anfal, named for war spoils, specifies distribution rules. It mandates one-fifth of looted items for Muhammad. From Sahih Bukhari, Tawhid edition, chapter 57 on khums, section 57/7 citing Quran 8:41: “Surely one-fifth is for Allah and the Messenger.” Muhammad noted, “I am the distributor and preserver, and Allah Ta’ala provides.” Hadith 3117 from Abu Hurairah: “I neither give to you nor deprive you. I am only the distributor; I spend as I am commanded.”
To illustrate the scale of Muhammad’s gains, consider one raid’s reported haul: over 6,000 female captives, 24,000 camels, 40,000 goats, and 4,000 uqiya of silver. Muhammad took one-fifth. His companions received portions, some enduring worn clothing for weeks, (Nasrul Bari, Volume 8, Bengali Edition, Page 411).
Yet, as spoils grew, allocations changed. Quran 8:1: “They ask you about the spoils of war. Say, ‘The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger.’ So fear Allah and amend that which is between you and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you should be believers.” Other renditions: “People ask you concerning the spoils. Say: The spoils are for Allah and the Messenger. So keep your duty to Allah, and adjust the matter of your difference, and obey Allah and His Messenger, if you are (true) believers.”
Quran 8:41: “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 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.”
Further verses like Quran 33:50, 59:6-7 detail inheritance of lands, homes, and properties from subdued groups, plus fay (non-combat gains) assigned to Muhammad, his kin, orphans, needy, and travelers, preventing wealth circulation among the elite. Quran 59:6: “What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger of the fay from them, for which you made no expedition with either cavalry or camelry, but Allah gives His messengers power over whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.” Quran 59:7: “What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of the townships, belongs to Allah, to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you.”
These provisions raise puzzles: Why would an entity like Allah require a share from human plunder, implying some deficiency? The repeated Quranic emphasis on exact divisions, down to minor amounts, suggests intense scrutiny over these assets.
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