THE SUPERIORITY OF GIVING GIFTS AND THE EXHORTATION FOR GIVING GIFTS

CHAPTER 1. The superiority of giving gifts.

3:740 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, “O Muslim women! None of you should look down upon the gift sent by her she-neighbour even if it were the trotters of the sheep (fleshless part of legs).”

3:741 Narrated by Urwa

Aisha said to me, “O my nephew! We used to see the crescent, and then the crescent and then the crescent in this way we saw three crescents in two months and no fire (for cooking) used to be made in the houses of Allah’s Apostle. I said, “O my aunt! Then what use to sustain you?” ‘Aisha said, “The two black things: dates and water, our neighbors from Ansar had some Manarh and they used to present Allah’s Apostle some of their milk and he used to make us drink.”

3:742 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet said, “I shall accept the invitation even if I were invited to a meal of a sheep’s trotter, and I shall accept the gift even if it were an arm or a trotter of a sheep.”

CHAPTER 2. Accepting the gift of game.

3:746 Narrated by Anas

We chased a rabbit at Mar-al-Zahran and the people ran after it but were exhausted. I overpowered and caught it, and gave it to Abu Talha who slaughtered it and sent its hip or two thighs to Allah’s Apostle. (The narrator confirms that he sent two thighs). The Prophet accepted that. (The sub-narrator asked Anas, “Did the Prophet; eat from it?” Anas replied, “He ate from it.”)

CHAPTER 3. The acceptance of a gift.

3:749 Narrated by Said bin Jubair

Ibn Abbas said: Um Hufaid, Ibn ‘Abbas’s aunt sent some dried yogurt (butter free), ghee (butter) and a mastigar to the Prophet as a gift. The Prophet ate the dried yogurt and butter but left the mastigar because he disliked it. Ibn ‘Abbas said, “The mastigar was eaten at the table of Allah’s Apostle and if it had been illegal to eat, it could not have been eaten at the table of Allah’s Apostle.”

3:750 Narrated by Abu Huraira

Whenever a meal was brought to Allah’s Apostle, he would ask whether it was a gift or Sadaqa (something given in charity). If he was told that it was Sadaqa, he would tell his companions to eat it, but if it was a gift, he would hurry to share it with them.

3:751 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

Some meat was brought to the Prophet and it was said that the meat had been given in charity to Buraira. He said, “It was Sadaqa for Buraira but a gift for us.”

CHAPTER 4. Whosoever gave a gift to his friend and chose (the time) when he was at the home of some of his wives and did not give it to him, while he was in the homes of his other wives.

3:755 Narrated by ‘Urwa from ‘Aisha

The wives of Allah’s Apostle were in two groups. One group consisted of ‘Aisha, Hafsa, Safiyya and Sauda; and the other group consisted of Um Salama and the other wives of Allah’s Apostle. The Muslims knew that Allah’s Apostle loved ‘Aisha, so if any of them had a gift and wished to give to Allah’s Apostle, he would delay it, till Allah’s Apostle had come to ‘Aisha’s home and then he would send his gift to Allah’s Apostle in her home. The group of Um Salama discussed the matter together and decided that Um Salama should request Allah’s Apostle to tell the people to send their gifts to him in whatever wife’s house he was. Um Salama told Allah’s Apostle of what they had said, but he did not reply. Then they (those wives) asked Um Salama about it. She said, “He did not say anything to me.” They asked her to talk to him again. She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, “Talk to him till he gives you a reply.” When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, “Do not hurt me regarding Aisha, as the Divine Inspirations do not come to me on any of the beds except that of Aisha.” On that Um Salama said, “I repent to Allah for hurting you.” Then the group of Um Salama called Fatima, the daughter of Allah’s Apostle and sent her to Allah’s Apostle to say to him, “Your wives request to treat them and the daughter of Abu Bakr on equal terms.” Then Fatima conveyed the message to him. The Prophet said, “O my daughter! Don’t you love whom I love?” She replied in the affirmative and returned and told them of the situation. They requested her to go to him again but she refused. They then sent Zainab bint Jahsh who went to him and used harsh words saying, “Your wives request you to treat them and the daughter of Ibn Abu Quhafa on equal terms.” On that she raised her voice and abused ‘Aisha to her face so much so that Allah’s Apostle looked at ‘Aisha to see whether she would retort. ‘Aisha started replying to Zainab till she silenced her. The Prophet then looked at ‘Aisha and said, “She is really the daughter of Abu Bakr.”

CHAPTER 5. What sort of presents (gifts) should not be rejected.

3:756 Narrated by ‘Azra bin Thabit Al-Ansari

When I went to Thumama bin ‘Abdullah, he gave me some perfume and said that Anas would not reject the gifts of perfume. Anas said: The Prophet used not to reject the gifts of perfume.

CHAPTER 6. Compensation for a gift.

3:758 Narrated by ‘Aisha

Allah’s Apostles used to accept gifts and used to give something in return.

CHAPTER 7. The witnesses for Al-Hibah (the gifts).

3:760 Narrated by ‘Amir

I heard An-Nu’man bin Bashir on the pulpit saying, “My father gave me a gift but ‘Amra bint Rawaha (my mother) said that she would not agree to it unless he made Allah’s Apostle as a witness to it. So, my father went to Allah’s Apostle and said, ‘I have given a gift to my son from ‘Amra bint Rawaha, but she ordered me to make you as a witness to it, O Allah’s Apostle!’ Allah’s Apostle asked, ‘Have you given (the like of it) to everyone of your sons?’ He replied in the negative. Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Be afraid of Allah, and be just to your children.’ My father then returned and took back his gift.”

CHAPTER 8. Giving gifts by a husband to his wife, and by a wife to her husband.

3:762 Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas

The Prophet said, “One who takes back his gift (which he has already given) is like a dog that swallows its vomit.”

CHAPTER 9. It is permissible for a woman to give gifts to somebody other than her husband and to free her slaves in the lifetime of her husband.

3:765 Narrated by Kurib

The freed slave of Ibn ‘Abbas, that Maimuna bint Al-Harith told him that she manumitted a slave-girl without taking the permission of the Prophet. On the day when it was her turn to be with the Prophet, she said, “Do you know, O Allah’s Apostle, that I have manumitted my slave-girl?” He said, “Have you really?” She replied in the affirmative. He said, “You would have got more reward if you had given her (i.e. the slave-girl) to one of your maternal uncles.”

3:766 Narrated by Aisha

Whenever Allah’s Apostle wanted to go on a journey, he would draw lots as to which of his wives would accompany him. He would take her whose name came out. He used to fix for each of them a day and a night. But Sauda bint Zam’a gave up her (turn) day and night to ‘Aisha, the wife of the Prophet in order to seek the pleasure of Allah’s Apostle (by that action).

CHAPTER 10. How to take over the slave and property (given as gifts)?

3:771 Narrated by Al-Miswar bin Makhrama

Allah’s Apostle distributed some cloaks but did not give anything thereof to Makhrama. Makhrama said (to me), “O son! accompany me to Allah’s Apostle.” When I went with him, he said, “Call him to me.” I called him (i.e. the Prophet ) for my father. He came out wearing one of those cloaks and said, “We kept this (cloak) for you, (Makhrama).” Makhrama looked at the cloak and said, “Makhrama is pleased,” (or the Prophet said), “Is Makhrama pleased?”

CHAPTER 11. The presenting of a gift of clothes, the wearing of which is disliked.

3:783 Narrated by Ibn Umar

Once the Prophet went to the house of Fatima but did not enter it. ‘Ali came and she told him about that. When ‘All asked the Prophet about it, he said, “I saw a (multi-colored) decorated curtain on her door. I am not interested in worldly things.” ‘Ali went to Fatima and told her about it. Fatima said, “I am ready to dispense with it in the way he suggests.” The Prophet ordered her to send it to such-and-such needy people. “

3:784 Narrated by ‘Ali

The Prophet gave me a silken dress as a gift and I wore it. When I saw the signs of anger on his face, I cut it into pieces and distributed it among my wives.”

CHAPTER 12. The acceptance of presents from A1-Mushrikfln (polytheists, pagans, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad (Pbuh)

3:787 Narrated by ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr

We were one-hundred and thirty persons accompanying the Prophet who asked us whether anyone of us had food. There was a man who had about a Sa of wheat which was mixed with water then. A very tall pagan came driving sheep. The Prophet asked him, “Will you sell us (a sheep) or give it as a present?” He said, “I will sell you (a sheep).” The Prophet bought a sheep and it was slaughtered. The Prophet ordered that its liver and other abdominal organs be roasted. By Allah, the Prophet gave every person of the one-hundred-and-thirty a piece of that; he gave all those of them who were present; and kept the shares of those who were absent.The Prophet then put its meat in two huge basins and all of them ate to their fill, and even then more food was left in the two basins which were carried on the camel (or said something like it).

CHAPTER 13. Giving presents to Al-Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad (Pbuh)

3:789 Narrated by Asma’ bint Abu Bakr

My mother came to me during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle and she was a pagan. I said to Allah’s Apostle (seeking his verdict), “My mother has come to me and she desires to receive a reward from me, shall I keep good relations with her?” The Prophet said, “Yes, keep good relation with her. “

CHAPTER 14.

3:792 Narrated by ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab

I gave a horse in Allah’s Cause. The person to whom it was given, did not look after it. I intended to buy it from him, thinking that he would sell it cheap. When I asked the Prophet he said, “Don’t buy it, even if he gives it to you for one Dirham, as the person who takes back what he has given in charity, is like a dog that swallows back its vomit.”

3:792B Narrated ‘Abdullâh bin ‘Umar

that he testified to Marwân in (favour) of his son Suhaib that Allah’s Messenger had given to Suhaib two houses and a room. So Marwân gave verdict (in favour of his son), because of (Ibn ‘Umar’s) witness.

CHAPTER 15. What is said about the ‘Umra[‘] and the Ruqba.

3:793 Narrated by Jabir

The Prophet gave the verdict that ‘Umra is for the one to whom it is presented.

CHAPTER 16. To borrow something for the bride at the time of her wedding.

3:796 Narrated by Aiman

I went to ‘Aisha and she was wearing a coarse dress costing five Dirhams. ‘Aisha said, “Look up and see my slave-girl who refuses to wear it in the house though during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle I had a similar dress which no woman desiring to appear elegant (before her husband) failed to borrow from me.”

CHAPTER 17. The superiority of the Maniha, i.e. a much she-camel or a sheep lent to somebody to use its milk and return it to its owner afterwards.

3:799 Narrated by Ibn Shihab Az-Zuhri

Anas bin Malik said, “When the emigrants came Medina, they had nothing whereas the Ansar had land and property. The Ansar gave them their land on condition that the emigrants would give them half the yearly yield and work on the land and provide the necessaries for cultivation.” His (i.e. Anas’s mother who was also the mother of ‘Abdullah bin Abu Talha, gave some date-palms to Allah’ Apostle who gave them to his freed slave-girl (Um Aiman) who was also the mother of Usama bin Zaid. When the Prophet finished from the fighting against the people of Khaibar and returned to Medina, the emigrants returned to the Ansar the fruit gifts which the Ansar had given them. The Prophet also returned to Anas’s mother the date-pallms. Allah’s Apostle gave Um Aiman other trees from his garden in lieu of the old gift.

3:800 Narrated by ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr

That Allah’s Apostle said, “There are forty virtuous deeds and the best of them is the Maniha of a she-goat, and anyone who does one of these virtuous deeds hoping for Allah’s reward with firm confidence that he will get it, then Allah will make him enter Paradise because of Hassan (a sub-narrator) said, “We tried to count those good deeds below the Maniha; we mentioned replying to the sneezer, removing harmful things from the road, etc., but we failed to count even fifteen.”