This misconception is due to the wrong translation of the word ‘Ghanemtum” as “spoils of war”. The word has been invariably used to mean cattles, spoils of war, treasure, mineral and anything which one gains or of value. It has been reliably mentioned in many books of Sunni scholars including Bukhari and Muslim that Khums is due on pearls removed from the sea when the ordinance of Khums was decreed, every Muslim was paying it. In fact, all sects of Islam consider Khums to be applicable on treasure. Who understands the Holy Qur’an better than the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) who lived with the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) or those so-called scholars who never met him? Understanding Qur’an by its external meaning alone is not sufficient. The existence of so many sects of Islam is a direct consequence of personal perceptions of Islam. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.)’s famous narrative is well-known, in which he said: “I have fought for the “Tanzeel” (revelation) and Ali (a.s.) will fight for its “Ta’veel” (interpretation) “. That is why we accept the meaning and interpretation of Allah’s commandments only from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).   _{Your Comment}