Guest Author - Serkan Tufan

Gift giving – receiving etiquette in Prophet Muhammad’s life

In this article, I will give some examples from Prophet Muhammad’s life (peace be upon him) about gift giving and receiving etiquette.

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 789:
Narrated 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. "

Here are some beautiful hadiths from Prophet Muhammad about presents as a side note:

(From translation of Sahih Bukhari)


Volume 3, Book 47, Number 740:
Narrated 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)."

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 742:
Narrated 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."

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 750:
Narrated 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.

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 758:
Narrated 'Aisha:
Allah's Apostles used to accept gifts and used to give something in return.

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 760:
Narrated '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."

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 762:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: The Prophet said, "One who takes back his gift (which he has already given) is like a dog that swallows its vomit."

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 767:
Narrated Aisha:
I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I have two neighbors; which of them should I give a gift to?" The Prophet said, "(Give) to the one whose door is nearer to you."

Volume 3, Book 47, Number 776:
Narrated Shal bin Sad:
A drink (of milk and water) was brought to Allah's Apostle while a boy was sitting on his right side and old men were sitting on his left side. He asked the boy, "Will you allow me to give it to these (people)?" The boy said, "No, by Allah, I will not allow anyone to take my right from you." Then the Prophet put the bowl in the boy's hand.