32/2. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3691 — Reclaiming a Gift
A Father Taking Back That Which He Gave To His Son, And Mentioning The Varying Reports Of The Narrat
Reclaiming a Gift: The Hadith's Strong Moral Warning
Sunan an-Nasai : 3691
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3691
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْخَلَنْجِيُّ الْمَقْدِسِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَعِيدٍ، - وَهُوَ مَوْلَى بَنِي هَاشِمٍ - عَنْ وُهَيْبٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْعَائِدُ فِي هِبَتِهِ كَالْكَلْبِ يَقِيءُ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فِي قَيْئِهِ " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'The one who takes back his gift is like the dog which vomits then goes back to its vomit.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3691In-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 4English translation : Vol. 4, Book 32, Hadith 3721
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3691
This Hadith gives a short but powerful warning against reclaiming a gift. Ibn 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah compared the person who takes back a gift to a dog that vomits and then returns to its vomit. The narration does not add a long legal discussion or explain different cases. Its focus is the ugly nature of giving something and later trying to take it back. The comparison is meant to make the listener feel how improper the act is. For someone searching for a hadith about taking back gifts, the message is easy to grasp: a gift should be given sincerely and should not be treated as something the giver can casually retrieve. Careful thought before giving can help a person avoid this behavior.
What we learn from this hadith
- Taking back a gift is described through a deeply negative comparison.
- A gift should not be treated as a temporary loan when it was given as a gift.
- The short wording makes the warning easy to remember.
- A giver should consider the decision carefully before handing over the gift.
