Sunan Abu Dawud #3541

Wages (Kitab Al-Ijarah)
Sahih

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

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْمَهْرِيُّ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أُسَامَةُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ شُعَيْبٍ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَسْتَرِدُّ مَا وَهَبَ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ يَقِيءُ فَيَأْكُلُ قَيْئَهُ فَإِذَا اسْتَرَدَّ الْوَاهِبُ فَلْيُوَقَّفْ فَلْيُعَرَّفْ بِمَا اسْتَرَدَّ ثُمَّ لِيُدْفَعْ إِلَيْهِ مَا وَهَبَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The similitude of the one who takes back what he gifted is like that of a dog which vomits and then it eats vomit. When a donor seeks to take back (his gift), it should be made known and he informed why he sought to take it back. Then whatever he donated should be returned to him.
Narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:

Context

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) uses a vivid metaphor to describe the act of taking back a gift, comparing it to a dog eating its own vomit. This analogy highlights the negative connotations associated with such behavior, emphasizing the importance of integrity in giving and receiving. The takeaway is a reminder to honor commitments and the sanctity of gifts.

Modern Application

In modern life, this principle can be seen in the importance of maintaining trust in relationships. Whether in personal or professional settings, taking back a gift can damage relationships and trust. It encourages individuals to think carefully before making commitments and to honor them once made.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Charity and Ethical Behavior because it addresses the ethical implications of giving and taking back gifts, stressing the importance of integrity in charitable acts.

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Common Words

72 total64 unique5 repeated
ٱلله4x
وما3x
ما2x
من2x
لا2x
بسم1x
ٱلرحمن1x
ٱلرحيم1x
عبس1x
وتولى1x
ٱلذى1x
يؤتى1x
ماله1x
يتزكى1x
أفاء1x
على1x
رسوله1x
أهل1x
ٱلقرى1x
فلله1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud

This hadith is #3541 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Wages (Kitab Al-Ijarah). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:.

About This Hadith