The Book of Gifts

كتاب الهبات

Chapter 1: It Is Disliked For A Man To Buy What He Gave In Charity From The One To Whom He Gave It

Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) reported

I donated a pedigree horse in the path of Allah. Its possessor made it languish. I thought that he would sell it at a cheap price. I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, whereupon he said: Don't buy it and do not get back your charity, for one who gets back the charity is like a dog who swallows its vomit.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Malik b. Anas with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition

" Don't buy that even if he gives you for one dirham."

Zaid b. Aslam reported on the authority of his father that 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) donated a horse in the path of Allah. He found that it had languished in the hand of its possessor, and he was a man of meagre resources He (Hadrat 'Umar) intended to buy it. He came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and made a mention of that to him, whereupon he said

Don't buy that even if you get it for a dirham for he who gets back the charity is like a dog which swallows its vomit.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zaid b. Aslam with the same chain of transmitters but with this (change) that the hadith transmitted on the authority of Malik and Rauh (he was the son of Qisirn) is more complete and lengthy.

Ibn 'Umar reported that 'Umar b. al-Khattib (Allah be pleased with him) donated a horse in the path of Allah and (later on) he found it being sold, and he decided to buy that. He asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it. whereupon he (the Holy prophet) said

Don't buy that and do not get back what you gave in charity.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar through another chain of transmitters.

Salim reported from Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) that 'Umar donated a horse in the path of Allah and then found it being sold, and he decided to buy that. He asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) about it, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said

Umar, do not get back what you gave as charity.

Chapter 2: The Prohibition Of Taking Back One's Charity After It Has Been Accepted, Except In The Case Of What A Father Gives To A Son Or Grandson

Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said this

He who gets back his charity is like a dog which vomits, and then returns to that and eats it.

This hadith is also reported through another chain.

A hadith like this is reported on the authority of Muhammad son of Fatima (Allah be pleased with her) daughter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say: The similitude of one who gives a charity and then gets it back is like that of a dog which vomits and then eats its vomit.

Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying

One who gets back the gift is like one who eats vomit.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters.

Abdullah b. Tawus reported on the authority of his father who reported from Ibn Abas (Allah be pleased with them) who reported from Allah's Messenger 'may peace be upon him) that he said

One who gets back his gift is like a dog which vomits and then swallows that vomit.

Chapter 3: It Is Disliked To Favor Some Of One's Children Over Others In Gift-Giving

Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father brought him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said

I have donated this slave of mine to my son. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Have you donated to every one of your sons (a slave) like this? He said: No. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: Then take him back.

Nu'man b. Bashir reported

My father brought me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I have donated this slave to my son. whereupon he said: Have you made (such) donation to every one or your sons? He said: No. Thereupon he (the-Holy Prophet) said: Then take him back.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with different chains of transmitters and a slight variation of words.

Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father had donated a slave to him. Allah's Apostle (may peace he upon him) said

Who is this slave (how have you come to possess it)? Thereupon he (Nu'man b. Bashir) said: My father has donated it to me, whereupon he said: Have all brothers (of yours) been given this gift as given to you? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Then return him.

Nu'man b. Bashir reported

My father donated to me some of his property. My mother Amra bint Rawaha said: I shall not be pleased (with this act) until you make Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) a witness to it. My father went to Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) in order to make him the witness of the donation given to me. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to him: Have you done the same with every son of yours? He said: No. Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Fear Allah, and observe equity in case of your children. My father returned and got back the gift.