The expenditures of the Bait ul-Mal are based upon six principles:

1. The expenditures for which the Treasury acts as custodian, and these are the Zakat funds. These will be paid to those eligible subject to availability. If the funds were available to the Treasury in the Zakat section, they would be paid to those among the eight categories mentioned in the Qur’an as their right. These funds must be paid to them. However, if these funds were not available, this waives their payment to those eligible; i.e. if the funds were not available to the Treasury in the Zakat section, then none of the eight categories would be given any money from the Zakat fund and the State would not have to borrow any money pending the levying of Zakat.

2. The expenditures which are due on the Treasury by way of “I’aalah” i.e. financial support and with regard to undertaking the duty of Jihad; such as spending on the destitute, the indigent and the traveller, and such as the spending on Jihad. The eligibility of this expenditure is not subject to availability, for it is a right that must be fulfilled whether funds were available to the Treasury or not. Hence, if the funds were available, they must be paid at once. However, if the funds were not available and if it were feared that a serious hardship would be caused by delaying the payment, the State should borrow the money at once, pending its collection from the Muslims, and then pay it back. If it were not feared that a hardship would be caused, then the principle: “It is delayed to the time of ease” would apply. Hence, payment would be deferred until the funds are levied and then they would be paid to those eligible.

3. The expenditures which are due upon the Treasury by way of “Badal” i.e. recompense or allowance, meaning that the funds are owed to people who rendered a service to the State, they took money for their services; such as the salaries of soldiers, civil servants, judges, teachers and the like. Hence, such payments are also not subject to availability. These are rights that must be fulfilled regardless of availability or scarcity i.e. whether the funds were available in the Treasury or not. If the funds are available, they should be paid immediately; if they are not available, the State would be obliged to make them available by taking whatever is needed from the Muslims. If it is feared that a serious hardship would be caused by delaying the payment, the State should borrow the money at once, pending its collection from the Muslims and then pay it back. If it were not feared that a hardship would be caused, then the principle: “It is delayed to the time of ease” would apply. Hence, payment would be deferred until the funds are levied and then they would be paid to those eligible.