Once I gave a horse in Allah's Cause (in charity) but that person did not take care of it. I intended to buy it, as I thought he would sell it at a low price. So, I asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h) about it. He said, "Neither buy, nor take back your alms which you have given, even if the seller were willing to sell it for one Dirham, for he who takes back his alms is like the one who swallows his own vomit."
Obligatory Charity Tax (Zakat)
Sahih al-Bukhari 1490
Hadith Text
"Once I gave a horse in Allah's Cause (in charity) but that person did not take care of it. I intended to buy it, as I thought he would sell it at a low price. So, I asked the Prophet (p.b.u.h) about it. He said, 'Neither buy, nor take back your alms which you have given, even if the seller were willing to sell it for one Dirham, for he who takes back his alms is like the one who swallows his own vomit.'"
Commentary on the Prohibition
The Prophet's prohibition against repurchasing one's charity establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic law: once charity is given, it becomes the absolute property of the recipient. The donor severs all rights and connections to the donated item.
This ruling preserves the sanctity of charitable acts and prevents donors from treating charity as temporary loans or conditional gifts. The severe analogy of "swallowing one's vomit" emphasizes the spiritual repulsiveness of reclaiming charity, as it demonstrates regret over an act meant solely for Allah's pleasure.
Legal Implications
Scholars derive from this hadith that all forms of charity retrieval are forbidden, whether through purchase, gift, or inheritance. The prohibition applies even if the recipient offers the item at a nominal price, as mentioned in the hadith.
This ruling extends beyond zakat to include all voluntary charities (sadaqah). The only exception recognized by scholars is when a parent receives back something they donated to their child, due to the special parent-child relationship in Islamic law.
Spiritual Wisdom
The metaphor of vomiting illustrates how charity, once given, becomes spiritually "expelled" from one's possession. To reclaim it is to take back what has been spiritually purified and dedicated to Allah.
This teaching cultivates sincerity (ikhlas) in charitable acts, ensuring they are performed purely for Allah's pleasure without expectation of worldly return. It trains the Muslim soul in detachment from worldly possessions and complete trust in divine reward.