Sunan an-Nasa'i #3712
The Book of Gifts
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَخْلَدٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَحِلُّ لأَحَدٍ يَهَبُ هِبَةً ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فِيهَا إِلاَّ الْوَالِدَ " . قَالَ طَاوُسٌ كُنْتُ أَسْمَعُ الصِّبْيَانَ يَقُولُونَ يَا عَائِدًا فِي قَيْئِهِ وَلَمْ أَشْعُرْ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ضَرَبَ ذَلِكَ مَثَلاً حَتَّى بَلَغَنَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ " مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَهَبُ الْهِبَةَ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فِيهَا " . وَذَكَرَ كَلِمَةً مَعْنَاهَا " كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ يَأْكُلُ قَيْئَهُ " .
"It is not permissible for anyone to give a gift then take it back, except a father." Tawus said: "I used to hear the boys say: 'O you who goes back to his vomit!' But I did not realize that the Messenger of Allah had said this as a parable, until we heard that he used to say: 'The likeness of the one who gives a gift then takes it back, is that of the dog which eats its vomit.'"
Narrated by It was narrated from Ibn Juraij, from Al-Hasan bin Muslim, from Tawus that the Messenger of Allah said:
Context
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned against the practice of taking back a gift after giving it, except for a father. He used a vivid metaphor to illustrate the absurdity of such actions, emphasizing the importance of integrity in giving. This teaching serves as a reminder of the ethical standards expected in relationships and transactions.
Modern Application
In contemporary life, this principle encourages individuals to honor their commitments and avoid retracting gifts or promises. It fosters a culture of trust and reliability in personal and professional relationships.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Contracts & Agreements because it addresses the moral obligations associated with giving and receiving gifts.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ الحَشۡرِ
Al-Hashr (The Exile)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَّآ أَفَآءَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ مِنْ أَهْلِ ٱلْقُرَىٰ فَلِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ وَلِذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱبْنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ كَىْ لَا يَكُونَ دُولَةًۢ بَيْنَ ٱلْأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَمَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ فَٱنتَهُوا۟ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
And what Allah restored to His Messenger from the people of the towns - it is for Allah and for the Messenger and for [his] near relatives and orphans and the [stranded] traveler - so that it will not be a perpetual distribution among the rich from among you. And whatever the Messenger has given you - take; and what he has forbidden you - refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.
سُورَةُ التَّوۡبَةِ
At-Tawba (The Repentance)
1 ayah
قُلْ أَنفِقُوا۟ طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًۭا فَٰسِقِينَ
Say, "Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people."
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمُ ٱسْتِبْدَالَ زَوْجٍۢ مَّكَانَ زَوْجٍۢ وَءَاتَيْتُمْ إِحْدَىٰهُنَّ قِنطَارًۭا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوا۟ مِنْهُ شَيْـًٔا ۚ أَتَأْخُذُونَهُۥ بُهْتَٰنًۭا وَإِثْمًۭا مُّبِينًۭا
But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin?
سُورَةُ المُجَادلَةِ
Al-Mujaadila (The Pleading Woman)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُظَٰهِرُونَ مِن نِّسَآئِهِمْ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ لِمَا قَالُوا۟ فَتَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَتَمَآسَّا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ تُوعَظُونَ بِهِۦ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ
And those who pronounce thihar from their wives and then [wish to] go back on what they said - then [there must be] the freeing of a slave before they touch one another. That is what you are admonished thereby; and Allah is Acquainted with what you do.
سُورَةُ الأَحۡزَابِ
Al-Ahzaab (The Clans)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍۢ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّٰٓـِٔى تُظَٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمْ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ
Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And he has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons. That is [merely] your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the [right] way.
Common Words
115 total98 unique10 repeated
ٱلله4x
من4x
وما4x
جعل3x
ما2x
ٱلسبيل2x
منكم2x
زوج2x
ذلكم2x
وٱلله2x
أفاء1x
على1x
رسوله1x
أهل1x
ٱلقرى1x
فلله1x
وللرسول1x
ولذى1x
ٱلقربى1x
وٱليتمى1x
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About Sunan an-Nasa'i
This hadith is #3712 from Sunan an-Nasa'i, in the Book of The Book of Gifts. It is graded Sahih and narrated by It was narrated from Ibn Juraij, from Al-Hasan bin Muslim, from Tawus that the Messenger of Allah said:.