Has Khums Been Made Lawful for Shiites During the Occultation?

The obligation to pay khums is established by the Qur’an. Paying khums is essential to the purification of one’s soul, wealth and children. The permission granted by the Master of the Age and Time, peace and blessings be upon him, to refrain from paying khums was solely for the sake of ensuring the purity of the birth of the children of the Shia; it does not apply to non-Shia. Nor does it mean that the Imam has lifted the obligation to pay khums from the Shia. Rather, he has neutralised the harmful effects that the prohibition or delay of khums payments would otherwise have on them.

Paying khums is an essential part of religious piety. During the Occultation, its payment requires particular care and sensitivity, and must be carried out with precision, subtlety and due diligence.

الأنفال : 41 و اعلموا أنما غنمتم من شی‏ء فأن لله خمسه و للرسول و لذی القربى‏ و الیتامى‏ و المساکین و ابن السبیل إن کنتم آمنتم بالله و ما أنزلنا على‏ عبدنا یوم الفرقان یوم التقى الجمعان و الله على‏ کل شی‏ء قدیر

“Know that whatever you acquire as spoils, a fifth belongs to God, the Messenger, his near relatives, orphans, the needy and the wayfarer—if you believe in God and in what We sent down to Our servant on the Day of Distinction, the day the two armies met. And God has power over all things!”

…و أما أموالکم فلا نقبلها إلا لتطهروا فمن شاء فلیصل و من شاء فلیقطع‏ فما آتانی الله خیر مما آتاکم…

“…As for the wealth you send to us, we accept it only so that you may be purified. So whoever wishes may send it, and whoever wishes may stop. What God has given me is better than what you give me…”

… و أما الحوادث الواقعه فارجعوا فیها إلى رواه حدیثنا فإنهم حجتی علیکم و أنا حجه الله علیهم و…

…و أما المتلبسون بأموالنا فمن استحل منها شیئا فأکله فإنما یأکل النیران …

…و أما الخمس فقد أبیح ل شیعتنا و جعلوا منه فی حل إلى وقت ظهور أمرنا لتطیب ولادتهم و لا تخبث …