The phrase fi sabilillah (فِي سَبِيلِ ٱللَّٰهِ, fī sabīli llāhi) is an Arabic expression meaning "in the cause of God", or more befittingly, "for the sake of God".[1] Alternative spellings for fi sabilillah include fisabilillah and fisabillillah
The phrase - which relates the distribution of zakat - is found frequently in the Quran, e.g. in surah 9, verse 60:
As-Sadaqat (zakat) are only for the Fuqara' (the poor), and Al-Masākīn (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Fi sabilillah (Allah's cause), and for Ibn As-Sabil a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.[2]
From the above context it is closely associated with alms-giving or charity, meaning "he dedicated the revenue or profit to be used in the cause of God", i.e. "he gave to charity". A classical example discussed by Lane in his Arabic-English Lexicon of 1863 is that of Umar who decided to give the revenue of a palm grove of his to charitable use. Because of these connotations, the phrase is closely associated with the concept of zakah in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence).[citation needed]
With regards to this phrase's use in Qur'an 9:60 above, according to Maududi majority of earliest Muslim scholars opined fi-sabilillah to mean Jihad,[3] for example, the 14th century scholar Ibn Kathir explained it as: "In the cause of Allah is exclusive for the benefit of the fighters in jihad, who do not receive compensation from the Muslim Treasury."[4] However, Maududi also points out that early scholars were mistaken in limiting Jihad here only to fighting as its peaceful, non-militaristic connotation is also relevant and applicable here.[3]Shafi Usmani interprets it as a religious cause which can include military Jihad or performing some other personal religious duty, such as the Hajj.[5] The progressive scholar, Ghamidi, interprets it broadly as "works in the service of religion".[6]
See also
Jihad – which contains further explanations and applications for the term 'Fi sabilillah'
Zakat – which contains information relating to the distribution to 'Fi sabilillah' recipients
^Lane, p. 1301, s.v. سبل:
"in the way meaning cause, of God, or religion; or in the doing of anything , or all, that God has commanded, or of the works whereby one pursues the way that leads to advancement in the favour of God "