Sahih al-Bukhari #2881

Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)
Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ حَمَلْتُ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَابْتَاعَهُ ـ أَوْ فَأَضَاعَهُ ـ الَّذِي كَانَ عِنْدَهُ، فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَشْتَرِيَهُ، وَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ بَائِعُهُ بِرُخْصٍ، فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ لاَ تَشْتَرِهِ وَإِنْ بِدِرْهَمٍ، فَإِنَّ الْعَائِدَ فِي هِبَتِهِ كَالْكَلْبِ يَعُودُ فِي قَيْئِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏
I heard `Umar bin Al-Khattab saying, "I gave a horse to be ridden in Allah's Cause and the person who got it intended to sell it or neglected it. So, I wanted to buy it as I thought he would sell it cheap. I consulted the Prophet (ﷺ) who said, "Do not buy it even if for one Dirham, because he who takes back his gift is like a dog swallowing its vomit."
Narrated by Narrated Aslam:

Context

In this hadith, Umar ibn Al-Khattab recounts an incident where he wanted to buy back a horse he had previously given as a gift for Jihad. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) advised him against this, comparing the act of taking back a gift to a dog returning to its vomit. This highlights the importance of generosity and the ethical implications of gift-giving in Islam.

Modern Application

The principle of not taking back gifts is relevant in today's society, where generosity and selflessness are valued. It encourages individuals to give without expecting anything in return, fostering trust and goodwill in relationships, whether personal or professional.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Ethics of Interaction because it emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity in giving and receiving gifts.

Related Ayahs

سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَآ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا۟ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا۟ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you that you might give them mounts, you said, "I can find nothing for you to ride upon." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allah].
سُورَةُ آلِ عِمۡرَانَ
Aal-i-Imraan (The Family of Imraan)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ ٱللَّهُ مِيثَٰقَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ لَتُبَيِّنُنَّهُۥ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَكْتُمُونَهُۥ فَنَبَذُوهُ وَرَآءَ ظُهُورِهِمْ وَٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِهِۦ ثَمَنًۭا قَلِيلًۭا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَا يَشْتَرُونَ
And [mention, O Muhammad], when Allah took a covenant from those who were given the Scripture, [saying], "You must make it clear to the people and not conceal it." But they threw it away behind their backs and exchanged it for a small price. And wretched is that which they purchased.
وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ ۚ وَمَن يَغْلُلْ يَأْتِ بِمَا غَلَّ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَٰمَةِ ۚ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
It is not [attributable] to any prophet that he would act unfaithfully [in regard to war booty]. And whoever betrays, [taking unlawfully], will come with what he took on the Day of Resurrection. Then will every soul be [fully] compensated for what it earned, and they will not be wronged.
سُورَةُ عَبَسَ
Abasa (He frowned)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ
The Prophet frowned and turned away
سُورَةُ الحَشۡرِ
Al-Hashr (The Exile)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْهُمْ فَمَآ أَوْجَفْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ خَيْلٍۢ وَلَا رِكَابٍۢ وَلَٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَلِّطُ رُسُلَهُۥ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدِيرٌۭ
And what Allah restored [of property] to His Messenger from them - you did not spur for it [in an expedition] any horses or camels, but Allah gives His messengers power over whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.

Common Words

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ما5x
على4x
ٱلله4x
ولا3x
من3x
ٱلذين2x
لا2x
عليه2x
وما2x
كل2x
إذا1x
أتوك1x
لتحملهم1x
قلت1x
أجد1x
أحملكم1x
تولوا1x
وأعينهم1x
تفيض1x
ٱلدمع1x
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About Sahih al-Bukhari

This hadith is #2881 from Sahih al-Bukhari, in the Book of Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Aslam:.

About This Hadith