Riyad as-Salihin, 1612
Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who gives something (to someone) as a gift and then gets it back (from him or her) is like a dog which eats its own vomit." Another narration is: "He who gets back his charity is like a dog which vomits and then returns to that and eats it." <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.
عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "الذي يعود في هبته كالكلب يرجع في قيئه" ((متفق عليه)). ((وفي رواية: "مثل الذي يرجع في صدقته، كمثل الكلب يقيء، ثم يعود في قيئه فيأكله". وفي رواية: "العائد في هبته كالعائد في قيئه)).
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Book 17, Hadith 102
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadiths:</b><br>
1) It is impermissible for anyone to take back his gift or charity, because what is given in the cause of Allah should not be taken back.<br>
2) Selling the gift or object of charity to the one who gave it is forbidden, because the one who takes back his charity is like a dog who swallows back its vomit. This parable was set in order to avert people from doing this deed, and it is not for Muslims to follow a bad example.<br>
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<b>Benefit:</b><br>
The Hadith indicates the prohibition of taking back gifts and objects of charity after delivering them, but an exception to this is the gift a father gives to his child, based on the statement of the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him): “You and your property belong to your father.” [Narrated by Ibn Mājah] He (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) also said: “It is unlawful for a man to give a gift or charity then take it back, except for a parent with regard to what he gives to his child.” [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd]