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Chapter 285
Undesirability of giving a Gift and then ask back for it
1612. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) 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.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary: The evil and abomination of taking back a gift (Hibah) is evident from the fact that one who does it has been considered akin to a dog, and what is taken back to vomit, which is extremely repulsive. Religious scholars are, however, of the opinion that this injunction is for the strangers (non-relatives). If a person gives something as a gift to his children or grandchildren, this order will not apply to him. It is permissible for him to take it back.
1613. `Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I donated a horse in the way of Allah. Its new possessor did not treat it properly. I made my mind to buy it because I thought that he would sell it at a cheap price (now that it became weak and emaciated). I asked the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) about it, whereupon he said, "Do not buy it and do not get back your charity, for one who gets back the charity is like a dog that eats its own vomit.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary: We learn from this Hadith that even to purchase something which one has already given in charity is not permissible.
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