Analysis of ‘spoil’ in (8: 41) of the Holy Quran

There are some different viewpoints on the verse 41 in chapter Anfal of the Holy Quran that it is necessary to have one fifth of spoil to different incomes. The main reasons for these different viewpoints are the interest meaning of ‘spoil’. Not only referring to dictionaries, but also linguistic principles have not an effect on determine the meaning of ‘spoil’ in (8: 41) in its general meaning; whatever gain or idiomatic meaning; spoil of war. Prophet Muhammad (AS) employed words as the nearest meaning to the Holy Quran and Divine Revelation. There is consensus between both Shiite and Sunni on the prophet’s (AS) speech. If he employed a word, it would mean that the word has been used in the Holy Quran with the same meaning. Based on this principle, the rule of one fifth of spoils in (8: 41) will be discussed in this paper. by referring to the prophet’s (AS) narrations in Sunni’s resources, the meaning of ‘spoil’ in this verse is its general meaning; i.e. whatever gain not its idiomatic meaning; i. e. spoil of war.