9/9. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1593 — Do Not Take Back Charity
On A Person Who Buys His Zakat After Its Payment
Hadith About Not Taking Back Your Sadaqah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1593
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1593
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، - رضى الله عنه - حَمَلَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَوَجَدَهُ يُبَاعُ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَبْتَاعَهُ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ " لاَ تَبْتَعْهُ وَلاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ " .
‘Abd Allah bin Umar Narrated from:
‘Umar bin Al Khattab gave a horse as alms in the way of Allah. He then found it being sold, and intended to buy it. So he asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about this. He said Do not buy it, and do not take back your sadaqah.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1593In-book reference : Book 9, Hadith 38English translation : Book 9, Hadith 1589
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1593
This Hadith teaches a clear lesson about sadaqah after it has been given. Umar ibn al-Khattab gave a horse as alms in the way of Allah. Later, he found that same horse being sold and wanted to buy it. He asked the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم about it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him not to buy it and not to return to his sadaqah. The core topic is taking back charity. The Hadith does not discuss every possible case of ownership. It speaks directly about this act: giving something in charity and then trying to buy it back. This Hadith about sadaqah encourages the giver to let the charity remain given.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not buy back what he has given as charity.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم described buying it back as returning to sadaqah.
- Charity should be treated as something given for Allah’s sake.
