Qatadah said “When the Apostle of Allah ﷺ participated in battle there was for him a special portion which he took from where he desired. Safiyyah was from that portion. But when he did not participate himself in his battle, a portion was taken out for him, but he had no choice.”

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ السُّلَمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ عَبْدِ الْوَاحِدِ - عَنْ سَعِيدٍ، - يَعْنِي ابْنَ بَشِيرٍ - عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا غَزَا كَانَ لَهُ سَهْمٌ صَافٍ يَأْخُذُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ شَاءَهُ فَكَانَتْ صَفِيَّةُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ السَّهْمِ وَكَانَ إِذَا لَمْ يَغْزُ بِنَفْسِهِ ضُرِبَ لَهُ بِسَهْمِهِ وَلَمْ يُخَيَّرْ .