Now let’s address the issue of whether the early Muslim armies received handsome salaries or whether they pillaged and looted. During the time of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), most of the Muslim army consisted of volunteers. Later on as the Islamic world organized itself as a state, the Muslim army consisted of both the regulars as well as volunteers. There is no historic evidence to suggest that the regular soldiers received exorbitant salaries or that they joined the army to become rich. The volunteers were paid out of the “Zakkah” (charity) money, and it was forbidden, on the other hand, to pay zakah to regular soldiers (see al-Mawardi’s al-Ahkam as-Sultaniyyah for reference.)
In the old days, before the advent of Islam, it was a traditions that the spoils of war were taken over by the victorious soldiers. And what the Muslims did was no different than what their enemies would have done had they won the battles. These spoils consisted of horses, cattle, weapons, armor, and personal belongings of the defeated soldiers. Sometimes there were disputes among the soldiers about who would get what share, and Quran in several verses criticizes those who were all too eager to collect these spoils. The early Muslims changed the rules and it was decided that all these assets would be collected and one-fifth of these would be spent on charity and for the propagation of Islam. The rest of these spoils were equally divided among the soldiers. When Iraq and Egypt were conquered, Caliph Umar (r.a.), refused to distribute the territories among the soldiers on the grounds that this practice would spoil the soldiers. He was also driven by a verse in the Quran which stated, “[59.10] And those who come after them say: Our Lord! forgive us and those of our brethren who had precedence of us in faith, and do not allow any spite to remain in our hearts towards those who believe, our Lord! surely Thou art Kind, Merciful.” Although, Umar (r.a.) was supported by leading Sahaaba (companions of the Prophet) and opposed by many, he stood strong and his decision became a rule for every Islamic government that followed.
Why Forced Charity?
A country needs revenues for social works; therefore, non-Muslims paid taxes just like everybody else. Muslims do not look at it as compulsory as much as their “duty” towards the poor and the needy. The poor and the wayfarer have a right in the share of those whom God has blessed with wealth. If the non-Muslims wanted to join the Muslims in paying charity, they were most welcome to.