285. Chapter on the dislike that a person takes back a gift that he has not yet delivered to its recipient, and a gift that he made to his child and delivered it or has not yet delivered it, and the dislike of buying something he gave in charity from the person to whom he gave it in charity or that he gave out as Zakah or expiation and the like, and the permissibility of buying it from someone else to whom it was transferred

1612/1- Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The one who takes back a gift is like a dog that swallows back its vomit.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

In another version: “The likeness of the one who takes back his charity is that of a dog which goes back to its vomit and eats it.”

Another version reads: “The one who takes back the gift he has given is like one who eats his vomit.”

1613- ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I donated a horse in the cause of Allah. Its new owner did not treat it properly. I wished to buy it and thought that he would sell it at a cheap price (now that it has become weak and emaciated). I asked the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) about it, whereupon he said: ‘Do not buy it and do not take back your charity, even if he would sell it to you for one dirham. Indeed, the one who takes back his charity is like a dog that eats back its vomit.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]

I donated a horse in the cause of Allah: I gave it as charity to a Mujāhid (fighter in the cause of Allah).

Guidance from the Hadiths:

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.

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.

Benefit:

The Hadīth 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]