What the disbelievers possess of wealth is not lawful for them in the ruling of Allah

Question : He says: Why is what is taken from the disbelievers called fay' (spoils)?

Answer : Because *fi'* means that which returns, as it is derived from *fa'a yaf'u* (to return), just as the shadow of the sun is called *fi'* because the shadows return after having extended. So how can it be considered a return when it was previously in the hands of the disbelievers? What is in the hands of the disbelievers is not lawful for them in the ruling of Allah. The evidence for this is His saying, the Exalted: For whom? Nothing of it will be attributed to them. It is understood from His saying "for those who believe" that it is not lawful for other than the believers, nor is it exclusively theirs, but rather they will be held accountable for it. And He, the Exalted, said: It is understood from this that other than those who believe and do righteous deeds will bear a burden for what they have consumed. Therefore, the wealth of the disbelievers in their hands is not lawful in the ruling of Allah; rather, they will be recompensed for it and punished for it. No morsel does a disbeliever raise to his mouth but he will be recompensed for it on the Day of Resurrection, and no sip of water does he drink but he will be recompensed for it on the Day of Resurrection, and no garment or wrap or other item does he wear but he will be held accountable for it on the Day of Resurrection. Everything is such that it is not lawful for him. So for whom is it? It is for the believers who use it to aid them in obedience to Him. For this reason, Allah permitted the believers to take the lives of the disbelievers and kill them; so how much more so their wealth?