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.
The Book of Gifts - Sahih Muslim 1620a
This narration from Sahih Muslim addresses the important matter of retracting charitable gifts, particularly those given in the path of Allah.
Context and Meaning
The companion donated a valuable pedigree horse as sadaqah (charity) for Allah's pleasure. The recipient neglected the animal, causing the donor to consider repurchasing it at a lower price.
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) prohibited this transaction, comparing one who takes back charity to a dog returning to its vomit.
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith establishes the irrevocable nature of charitable gifts once given. The comparison to a dog consuming its vomit emphasizes the spiritual degradation of retracting charity.
Scholars explain that charity becomes the recipient's property upon acceptance. The donor loses all rights and cannot reclaim it directly or indirectly through purchase.
The ruling applies regardless of the recipient's treatment of the gifted item. Even mismanagement doesn't justify reclaiming what was given for Allah's pleasure.
Legal Rulings
The prohibition includes both direct repossession and indirect means like purchasing at lower prices.
This ruling preserves the sincerity of charitable acts and prevents donors from using charity as temporary loans or speculative transactions.
Exceptions exist only for parental gifts to children, based on other authentic narrations.