7/32. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 668 — Do Not Take Back Charity
What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Take Back Charity
Hadith About Not Taking Back Charity
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 668
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 668
حَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، أَنَّهُ حَمَلَ عَلَى فَرَسٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ رَآهَا تُبَاعُ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَشْتَرِيَهَا فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ تَعُدْ فِي صَدَقَتِكَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Umar Gave A Horse To Be Used In The Cause Of Allah. Then He Saw It Being Sold, So He Wanted To Buy It, But The Prophet Said: "Do Not Take Back What You Have Given In Charity."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 668In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 52English translation : Vol. 2, Book 2, Hadith 668
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 668
This Hadith teaches a direct rule of manners around charity. Umar had given a horse to be used in the cause of Allah. Later, he saw it being sold and wanted to buy it back. The Prophet told him: “Do not take back what you have given in charity.” The focus is not on the market price or the condition of the horse. The lesson is about the dignity of giving. Once something has been given as charity, the giver should not look for a way to reclaim it. This protects the meaning of sadaqah and keeps the heart from staying attached to what was already given.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not take back what has been given in charity.
- Charity should be given with a clean break from ownership.
- A giver should avoid attachment to what was donated.
- The Prophet corrected Umar’s intention to buy back the horse.
