They ask you about the booty of war; you say: “The booty is for Lord Allah and the Messenger; then you heed Allah and you reform the relationship in between you. And you obey Allah and His Messenger if you are believers.
The Battle of Bad’r happened in the 2nd year of Hijra under the leadership of Messenger was the first battle during the period of Messenger Muhammad. After the battle different opinions emerged about the division of booty. So, this verse and verse 41 were revealed. Before the revelation of this verse, the booty was possessed with the one who received it. The dispute emerged regarding the possession of booty. That is whether the one who received it should possess it or should the booty be shared with those who chased the enemy too. The Three-Time-Knower Lord has decided everything and He has inscribed everything in His Book as explained in verse 6: 59. So Lord commands that the booty belongs to Lord and His Messenger. It is told in verse 8: 17, when you slaughter them, you didn’t slaughter; but Allah did slaughter them. That means since the believers are the vicegerents of Lord, they will not do anything according to their whims. They will only obey Allah and His Messenger as explained in verses 4: 59 and 80. It is told in verse 49: 15, believers have believed with Lord and His Messenger as submitted by Adhikr, then they will have no doubt in their belief, and they will do Jihad with their soul and wealth, those are truthful.
Since today, there is no group of believers anywhere in the world, it is commanded to the odd-believer to do Jihad against the Kuffar and hypocrites with Adhikr as explained in verse 9: 73. Read together at 49: 9-10. See explanation 3: 28-33; 9: 23-24 and 22: 77-78.