Gifts

Al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir reported that his father brought him to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I have given this son of mine an enslaved boy as a gift.” The Prophet asked, “Have you given each of your children the same?” He said, “No.” The Prophet said, “Then take it back.”

Al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir said from the pulpit: My father gave me a gift, and Amra bint Rawaha said, “I will not be satisfied until you make the Messenger of Allah a witness.” My father went to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I gave my son by Amra bint Rawaha a gift, and she told me to make you a witness, Messenger of Allah.” He asked, “Have you given all your other children the same?” He said, “No.” The Prophet said, “Fear Allah and be fair among your children.” My father returned and took back the gift.

Aisha reported that when the Prophet became seriously ill, he asked his wives for permission to be cared for in my home, and they gave him permission. He came out supported by two men, his feet dragging on the ground; one was al-Abbas and the other was another man. Ubaydullah said: I told Ibn Abbas what Aisha had said. He asked, “Do you know who the man Aisha did not name was?” I said, “No.” He said, “It was Ali ibn Abi Talib.”

Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet said: “The one who takes back a gift is like a dog that vomits and then returns to its vomit.”

Asma said: I asked, “Messenger of Allah, I have no property except what al-Zubayr brings me. May I give charity from it?” He said, “Give charity, and do not hoard it, or provision will be withheld from you.”

Asma reported that the Messenger of Allah said: “Spend, and do not keep count, or Allah will keep provision from you; and do not hoard, or Allah will withhold from you.”

Maymuna bint al-Harith reported that she freed a young enslaved woman without first asking the Prophet’s permission. When it was her day with him, she said, “Messenger of Allah, do you know that I freed my young servant?” He asked, “Did you do so?” She said, “Yes.” He replied, “Had you given her to your maternal uncles, your reward would have been greater.” Bakr ibn Mudar also transmitted from Amr, from Bukayr, from Kurayb, that Maymuna freed her.

Aisha reported that whenever the Messenger of Allah intended to travel, he drew lots among his wives, and whichever one’s lot came out went with him. He allotted each wife a day and a night, except that Sawda bint Zam‘a gave her day and night to Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, seeking the Messenger of Allah’s favor.

Bukayr transmitted from Amr, from Kurayb, the freedman of Ibn Abbas, that Maymuna, the Prophet’s wife, freed a young servant of hers. He said to her, “Had you given her to some of your maternal uncles, your reward would have been greater.”

Aisha said: I have two neighbors; to which of them should I give a gift? He replied, “To the one whose door is nearer to yours.”

Abdullah ibn Abbas reported that al-Sa‘b ibn Jaththama al-Laythi, one of the Prophet’s Companions, told him that he gave the Messenger of Allah a wild donkey at al-Abwa’—or Waddan—while the Prophet was in ihram, and he returned it. Al-Sa‘b said, “When he saw the disappointment on my face because he returned my gift, he said, ‘We have not rejected your gift; we are in ihram.’”

Abu Humayd al-Sa‘idi reported that the Prophet appointed a man from the Azd, called Ibn al-Lutbiyya, to collect charity. When he returned, he said, “This is for you, and this was given to me as a gift.” The Prophet said, “Why did he not stay in his father’s or mother’s house and see whether he would be given a gift? By the One in whose hand is my soul, no one takes anything from it without bringing it on the Day of Resurrection, carrying it on his neck. If it is a camel, it will groan; if a cow, it will moo; if a sheep, it will bleat.” He raised his hands until we saw the whiteness of his armpits and said three times, “O Allah, have I conveyed the message?”

Jabir reported that the Prophet said to him, “When the wealth of Bahrain arrives, I will give you like this”—three times. It did not arrive before the Prophet died. Abu Bakr then ordered a caller to announce, “Whoever is owed a promise or a debt by the Prophet, let him come to us.” I went to him and said, “The Prophet promised me something.” He gave me three handfuls.

Al-Miswar ibn Makhrama reported that the Messenger of Allah distributed some cloaks but gave none to Makhrama. Makhrama said, “My son, let us go to the Messenger of Allah.” I went with him. He said to me, “Go in and call him for me.” I called him, and he came out wearing one of the cloaks. He said, “We kept this one for you.” Makhrama looked at it and was pleased.

Abu Hurayra reported that a man came to the Messenger of Allah and said, “I am ruined.” He asked, “What happened?” The man said, “I had intercourse with my wife during Ramadan.” The Prophet asked, “Can you free an enslaved person?” He said, “No.” He asked, “Can you fast for two consecutive months?” He said, “No.” He asked, “Can you feed sixty poor people?” He said, “No.” Then a man from the Ansar brought a basket of dates. The Prophet said, “Take this and give it as charity.” The man said, “To someone poorer than us, Messenger of Allah? By the One who sent you with the truth, there is no household between the two lava fields poorer than ours.” He said, “Then go and feed it to your family.”

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that his father was killed as a martyr at Uhud, leaving creditors who pressed him for their rights. I went to the Messenger of Allah and spoke to him. He asked them to accept the produce of my garden and release my father from the debt, but they refused. The Messenger of Allah did not hand them my garden or force them to accept it; he said, “I will come to you tomorrow morning.” He came to us the next morning, walked through the date palms, and prayed for blessing in their fruit. I harvested it, paid the creditors their rights, and some produce remained for us. I went to the Messenger of Allah, who was sitting, and told him. He said to Umar, “Listen, Umar.” Umar said, “Had we not already known that you are the Messenger of Allah? By Allah, you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.”

Sahl ibn Sa‘d reported that a drink was brought to the Prophet. He drank, with a boy on his right and elders on his left. He said to the boy, “Would you permit me to give these elders the drink?” The boy replied, “I would not give anyone preference over me for my share from you, Messenger of Allah.” So the Prophet placed it in his hand.

Jabir reported: I came to the Prophet in the mosque, and he paid me what he owed me and gave me extra.

Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us: Ghundar narrated to us: Shuʿba narrated to us, from Muharib, who said: I heard Jabir ibn Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with them both, say: I sold a camel to the Prophet ﷺ during a journey. When we reached Medina, he said: “Go to the mosque and pray two rakʿahs.” He then weighed out the payment for me—Shuʿba said: I think he weighed it for me—and gave me extra. Some of that remained with me until the people of Syria took it on the Day of al-Harra.

Qutayba narrated to us, from Malik, from Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Saʿd, may Allah be pleased with him: A drink was brought to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. A boy was seated to his right, and elders were to his left. He said to the boy: “Will you let me give these elders some?” The boy replied: “No, by Allah. I will not give anyone preference over me in my share from you.” So he placed it in the boy’s hand.