He now gave from the spoils of the Huwazin large presents to the leading
chiefs of Mecca and of the Bedouin tribes, who had become converts, at which his
old followers and friends were somewhat annoyed and made discontented. But later
on a revelation came to justify his action even in a small matter like this:
Some of them defame thee in regard to the alms, yet if a part be given them
they are content, but if no part be given them, behold, they are angry . . . .
Would that they were satisfied with what God and His Apostle had given them and
would say, 'God sufficeth us, God will vouchsafe to us of His favour and so will
His Apostle: verily unto God do we make our suit.'
But alms are only to be given to the poor and needy and those who collect them,
and to those whose hearts are reconciled (to Islam). Sura At-Taubah (ix) 58-60.1
The alms were, in the case of the chiefs who received rich presents, very
much of the nature of a bribe, and naturally the men of Madina objected to the
procedure. The words ' those whose hearts are reconciled to Islam' are said by
the commentators to be now abrogated, for Abu Bakr abolished the making of these
gifts to converts, because God had now prospered Islam and so such gifts were no
longer needed.2