32/3. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3693 — Taking Back Charity
Mentioning The Different Reports From 'Abdullah Bin 'Abbas About It
Taking Back Charity: A Hadith Warning Against Reclaiming What You Gave
Sunan an-Nasai : 3693
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3693
أَخْبَرَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ حُسَيْنٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سَعِيدُ بْنُ الْمُسَيَّبِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَرْجِعُ فِي صَدَقَتِهِ كَمَثَلِ الْكَلْبِ يَرْجِعُ فِي قَيْئِهِ فَيَأْكُلُهُ " .
`Abdullah bin `Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'The likeness of the one who takes back his gift, is that of a dog which goes back to its vomit and eats it.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3693In-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 6English translation : Vol. 4, Book 32, Hadith 3723
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3693
This Hadith warns against taking back charity or a gift after it has been given. 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah compared the person who returns to his charity with a dog that returns to its vomit and eats it. The narration uses a disturbing image so the listener understands that the action is not presented as a small matter. It does not provide extra conditions or a detailed list of exceptions in this wording. Its main teaching is moral clarity: giving should not be followed by an attempt to reclaim what was handed over. The giver should therefore be serious and deliberate at the time of giving. A charitable act loses its clean character when the giver later tries to pull the gift back.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not reclaim charity after giving it.
- The Hadith uses a severe comparison to show the ugliness of the act.
- Giving should be done with a firm and sincere decision.
- The giver should not treat charity as something to retrieve later.
