Groblog: Giving tithes, dashansh, dashond, Ushr to the living successor of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS is the call Allah as per verse 8:41 of the holy Qur'aan

Hello all , I am pleased to share the following question and the response on Grok which is followed by analysis from the perspective of the acceptance of acceptance of the living successor of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS in our age. 

The prompt

Giving tithes, dashansh, dashond, Ushr to the living successor of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS is the call of verse 8:41 of the holy Qur'aan . Please share on the practice.

Response from Grok

Qur'an 8:41 states (in a common translation): "And know that whatever thing you gain, one-fifth of it is for Allah and for the Messenger, for the near relatives [of the Messenger], the orphans, the needy, and the wayfarer—if you believe in Allah and in what We sent down to Our servant on the day of distinction, the day when the two armies met. And Allah has power over all things."
This verse refers to khums (one-fifth), traditionally applied to spoils of war (ghanima) in most Islamic interpretations. The distribution is to Allah, the Messenger, his near relatives (dhil-qurba), orphans, the needy, and travelers.Mainstream Interpretations

• Sunni view: Khums applies primarily to war booty. After the Prophet's death, the share for the Messenger and relatives often redirected to general welfare or state needs, as there is no ongoing prophetic succession.
• Twelver Shia view: Khums extends beyond war spoils to certain gains/profits. Half (Sahm al-Imam) belongs to the Imam as successor; during the occultation of the 12th Imam, this is paid to qualified scholars (maraji') as representatives. The other half aids needy descendants of the Prophet.

Specific Practice MentionedThe practice of giving tithes (e.g., dasond or dashansh, meaning one-tenth, often 12.5% in practice; dashond likely a variant; ushr, traditionally 10% on agricultural produce) directly to a living successor of the Prophet Muhammad aligns with beliefs in some branches of Ismaili Shia Islam, particularly the Nizari Ismailis (led by the Aga Khan as the present, living Imam) and similar groups like the Dawoodi Bohras (who follow a living Dai al-Mutlaq as representative of the hidden Imam).In these communities:

• The obligatory religious giving (often called dasond) is submitted to the living Imam or his authorized representative.
• It is viewed as fulfilling the Qur'anic obligation of supporting the Imam (as the "near relative" and spiritual successor), who then uses it for community welfare, education, and charitable causes.
• This is rooted in the belief in a continuous, present Imamate providing direct guidance.

This interpretation differs from mainstream Sunni and Twelver Shia views, where no such direct payment to a living successor is mandated in the same way.Islamic practices vary across sects, and interpretations of verses like 8:41 reflect theological differences on succession (imamate vs. caliphate). For personal guidance, consulting scholars from the relevant tradition is recommended.
Analysis
I affirm the continuation of the the living successor of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS whom all salute in Darood e Ibrahimi. However, the name is not known. Being from Sunni social background, I found out the unbroken chain of the living successor https://www.ismailignosis.com/p/the-seats-of-the-ismaili-imamat-from-medina-to-lisbon-632-2018 I have been sharing the unbroken chain with all world leaders through X and other social media handles and through email while speaking about this with all across the forums where ,there is a discussion on the root causes of the key challenges to humanity. Learning this, we conclude that the practice of Nizari muslimeen and muslimaat is 100 per cent correct. Accepting the living successor of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS is mandatory for accepting the Light of Allah in real time in the blessed being of Fatimi Khalifatullah Shah Raheem al Hussaini Aga Khan V.
Sharing the above, we are pleased to further share on the comparison between the 12er ,Dawoodi and Nizari muslim practice. The content below is from the Grok which examined closely reflects the reality.

Khums (literally "one-fifth") is an Islamic religious tax based on Qur'an 8:41, which mandates one-fifth of certain gains for Allah, the Messenger, his near relatives (dhil-qurba), orphans, the needy, and wayfarers. Interpretations differ significantly between Twelver Shia (the largest Shia branch) and Ismaili Shia (including Nizari and Tayyibi/Dawoodi Bohra branches), reflecting theological differences on the Imamate, succession after Prophet Muhammad, and application of the verse.Key Comparisons

Aspect	Twelver Shia	Ismaili Shia (Nizari - majority, led by Aga Khan)	Ismaili Shia (Tayyibi/Dawoodi Bohra)
Rate	20% (one-fifth)	Typically 12.5% (often called dasond or "tithe")	Varies; includes elements like wajebat, but khums not strictly 20% on income
Applicability	Broad: Annual surplus profits/gains after expenses, minerals, treasure, sea gems, spoils of war, mixed lawful/unlawful wealth, certain land purchases	Primarily on income/earnings; viewed as encompassing zakat + khums/ushr	Obligatory dues (wajebat) to the Dai; khums historically on gains but adapted
Basis in Qur'an 8:41	Extended beyond war spoils to general gains/profits	Interpreted as religious dues to the living Imam; dasond fulfills broader obligations	Similar to Nizari but through Dai as representative of hidden Imam
Recipient	Divided into two halves: - Sahm al-Imam (Imam's share): To marja' (scholars) as deputies during occultation of 12th Imam - Sahm al-Sadat: To needy Sayyids (Prophet's descendants)	Directly to the present, living Imam (Aga Khan) for community welfare, institutions (e.g., AKDN)	To the Dai al-Mutlaq (representative of hidden Imam) for community use
Imam Status	12th Imam in occultation; scholars act as proxies	Continuous, manifest (present) Imamate; direct guidance	Imam in seclusion; Dai as full representative
Purpose/Use	Religious institutions, seminaries, welfare for Sayyids/orphans/needy	Community development, education, health, humanitarian aid via Imamat institutions	Community welfare, mosques, education, charity
Obligation Style	Strict fiqh rules; paid annually on surplus	Voluntary yet foundational to faith; emphasized in farmans (Imam's guidance)	Strict communal collection system

Detailed Explanation

• Twelver View: Khums is a core obligation (furu' al-din), extending Qur'an 8:41's "ghanima" (gains) beyond war booty to everyday profits. During the occultation of the 12th Imam (Mahdi), the Imam's share funds religious scholarship and propagation, while the Sadat share supports Prophet's descendants (who are ineligible for zakat).
• Ismaili View (Nizari): Emphasis on a living Imam provides direct access. Dasond (12.5%) is seen as fulfilling zakat, ushr, and khums obligations, submitted unconditionally to the Imam for discretionary use in uplifting the community globally (e.g., hospitals, schools via Aga Khan Development Network). It is described as purifying wealth and foundational to faith.
• Ismaili View (Bohra): Similar belief in a hidden Imam, but authority vested in the Dai. Dues include khums-like elements but are collected centrally for community needs; less emphasis on strict 20% on surplus compared to Twelvers.

These differences stem from divergent views on Imamate continuity: Twelvers await the hidden Imam, while Ismailis (both branches) prioritize guidance through a present or fully represented authority. Practices reflect sectarian history and adaptation to modern contexts. For personal application, consult respective community scholars or authorities.

Comparison of Shia Khums (Twelver and Ismaili) with Sunni ZakatZakat is one of the Five Pillars of Islam in Sunni tradition, a mandatory almsgiving (typically 2.5%) aimed at purifying wealth and supporting the community. Khums (one-fifth or 20%) in Shia traditions serves a similar purifying role but differs in application, rate, and recipients due to theological views on the Imamate and interpretation of Qur'an 8:41. Sunnis primarily limit khums to war spoils (ghanima), while zakat is the main ongoing charitable tax.

Aspect	Sunni Zakat	Twelver Shia Khums	Ismaili (Nizari) Dasond/Khums-Zakat Equivalent
Rate	2.5% (one-fortieth)	20% (one-fifth)	10–12.5% (often called dasond, encompassing zakat + khums elements)
Applicability	On accumulated wealth/savings above nisab (threshold) after one lunar year: gold/silver, cash, livestock, crops, trade goods	On annual surplus profits/income after expenses; also spoils, treasure, minerals	Primarily on net income/earnings; viewed as fulfilling zakat, khums, and ushr
Basis	Multiple Qur'anic verses (e.g., 9:60); one of Five Pillars	Extended from Qur'an 8:41 (ghanima interpreted broadly as "gains")	Qur'an 8:41 and zakat verses; guidance from living Imam
Recipients	8 categories (Qur'an 9:60): poor, needy, administrators, reconciliation of hearts, freeing slaves, debtors, wayfarers, in God's cause	Divided: Sahm al-Imam (to marja'/scholars as Imam's deputies) + Sahm al-Sadat (needy Sayyids/descendants of Prophet)	Directly to living Imam (Aga Khan), who allocates for community welfare (e.g., AKDN institutions)
Role of Khums	Limited: mainly 20% on war booty (state/army use); some schools extend to treasure/mines	Core obligation alongside zakat (which is narrower in Shia)	Incorporated into dasond; not separate from zakat-like dues
Purpose	Wealth purification, social welfare, poverty alleviation	Supports religious leadership, Prophet's descendants (ineligible for zakat), propagation of faith	Spiritual purification via submission to Imam; funds global development, education, health
Collection/Distribution	Individual or state/mosque; voluntary in many modern contexts	Paid to marja' or representatives during Imam's occultation	Submitted to Imam or institutions; emphasizes unconditional trust
Status	Third Pillar; obligatory on most wealth types	One of Branches of Religion; compensates Banu Hashim (forbidden zakat)	Foundational to faith; more than charity—act of devotion to Imam

Key Differences and Context

• Sunni Perspective: Zakat is the primary, ongoing tax for wealth purification and charity. Khums is secondary and historical, mostly irrelevant today without active warfare. Prophet's descendants can receive priority in zakat categories but are not exclusively entitled.
• Twelver Shia Perspective: Khums is broader and more significant in practice than zakat (which applies to fewer items like specific crops/livestock). It ensures financial independence for religious scholars and support for Sayyids, reflecting belief in the hidden 12th Imam.
• Ismaili Perspective: Dasond replaces or encompasses traditional zakat/khums, emphasizing direct guidance from the present Imam. It is seen as spiritual submission rather than mere charity, funding modern institutions like hospitals and schools.

These practices stem from differing views on succession after the Prophet Muhammad and Qur'anic interpretation. All aim at wealth purification and community support, but implementation varies by sect. For personal practice, consult qualified scholars from the respective tradition.

Implications for real time practice
I have been calling for universal acceptance of the living Imamat /Leadership of Shah Raheem al Hussaini, the Yadullah, the Hablillah, the Khalifatullah, the Light of Allah whose existence is decreed to be MANIFEST across the ages as per verse 24:35 of the holy Qur'aan whose obedience as OLIL Amr is mandatory for the obedience of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS and Allah as per verse 4:59 of the holy Qur'aan,
Conclusion
The idea of waiting for Imam Mahdi is simple negation of verse 24:35, 4:59, 48:10 and 17:71 and the Jannat verses 89:27-30 of the holy Qur'aan. Therefore, acceptance of Fatimi Khalifatullah Shah Raheem al Hussaini is the basic requirement for being among the real time muslimeen and muslimaat. Thus, muslimeen and muslimaat being described as Nizari muslimeen and muslimaat are the real time muslimeen and muslimaat pledge to the real time successor of prophet Mohammad SUH and HRS. Therefore, only Shah Raheem al Hussaini Aga Khan V is the living Imam Mahdi and there is none in hiding. Unity in giving KHUMS to Fatimi Khalifatullah Shah Raheem al Hussaini Aga Khan V is required for eradicating conflicts.