Law of Rejecting Gifts in Islam Prespective
Gift is a gift that can be any object or in any other form to the others. In Islam, it is advisable to give each other gifts as the law of take and give gifts in Islam.
Because it is believed to increase mutual relationships and also with giving each other gifts then it is believed that it will be able to cultivate mutual love. As the following hadith :
“By giving each other gifts you undoubtedly love each other.” (Narrated by Al Bukhari).
In addition to the suggestion of giving each other gifts in Islam there is also a suggestion not to reject the gift given as the law refuses giving in Islam like Prophet Muhammad himself who is a person who always receive gift from others.
And in Ash Shahihain (Shahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) from Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu ‘anhu, he said that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam if given food,
“He asked about that food,”is it gift or shadaqah “then he said to his Companions,” Eat! “While he did not eat. And when it says “Gift”, he hinted with his hand (his receipt-pent). Then he ate with them. (Narrated by Al Bukhari [2576] and Muslim [1077])
Law of Refusing Gift In Islam
According to the sya’ri term the gift means surrendering an object to a certain person in order for the realization of a good relationship and getting reward from Allah without any request and requirement. This gift law can be sunnah if to give gifts if in order to connect silaturrahim, affection and love. (Read Way to Visit Neighbour in Islam)
But it is also permissible to refuse as to where the law rejects the application of men in Islam and the law of hurting other people’s heart in Islam.
And sometimes, too, it can be a haram or an intermediary to a haramn case, and it is a gift that is in the form of something haram, or belongs to the category of bribes and which has same law with it. Then how exactly the law of refusing gifts in Islam? In order to find it out, there 5 laws of refusing gifts in Islam that will be discussed.
Based on Hadith
The first prohibition law of refusing the gift is based on the hadith Ahmad of Khalid bin ‘Adi, that the Prophet said :
“Whoever gets the goodness from his brother who is not by hoping and begging, then let him receive it and not reject it, because it is the provision given to him by Allah“.
In the case of this prohibition there are provisions where the gift can not be denied. Some of these terms as follows :
Ban to Refuse Neighbor’s Gift
Narrated from Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu anhu, from the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he said: “O Muslims, do not ever let a woman downplay her neighbor’s gift even if it is only the tip of a goat’s feet.” In this case, there is a prohibition against gifts or gifts from neighbors because it is a form of gratitude according to Islam. Even if you do not want it or the form of gift which does not match what you expect and even the amount of gift given is very small, then you are very prohibited to refuse it like the benefit of alhamdulillah utterance. This is clearly stated in the above hadith. [AdSense-B] 2. Prohibition to refuse Invitation In addition to the gift from neighbors, the invitation like thanksgiving event or any event you are forbidden to refuse it. Besides receiving it you are also encouraged to come to event. As Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu anhu from the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, he said: “If I am invited to eat dziraa ‘or kuraa’ I will surely come, and if I am given a gift of dziraa ‘or kuraa’ I will surely receive it.” The prohibition of rejecting the invitation was also conveyed by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam in his word as follows, “Come to the invitation, do not reject the gift, and do not abuse the Muslims.” (Narrated by Ahmad, Ibn Abi Syaibah, Al Bukhari in Adabul Mufrad and Shahihul Jami ‘Ash Shaghir [158]) 3. Prohibition on Requesting Rewards Back From Ibn ‘Abbas Radhiyallahu anhuma, he said, “The Prophet sallallaahu’ alaihi wa sallam said: “We do not have a cruel example, the man who requests his grant back like a dog swallowing his vomit.” It has been clearly explained in the above hadith that, as a giver you are not allowed to ask the reward back. Except for a father (He can take back) what he gives to his son. (Read Quran Verse of Respecting Parents) As from Ibn ‘Umar and Ibn’ Abbas Radhiyallahu anhu, both of them reciting the hadeeth, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: لاَ يَحِلُّ لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يُعْطِيَ عَطِيَّةً ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ فِيهَا إِلاَّ الْوَالِدَ فِيمَا يُعْطِي وَلَدَهُ. “It is not halal for a person to give a gift and then he requests it back except the father on what he gives to his son (it may be asked again).” [AdSense-A] 4. Prohibition of Rejecting 3 Prizes From ‘Azrah bin Thabit al-Ansari, he said, “Having Tsumamah bin ‘Abdillah told me, he said,’ I went to see him, he gave me perfume and said, ‘Anas Radhiyallahu’ anhu did not reject the perfume. ‘He said,’ Anas supposes that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam first never refused perfume. “ From Ibn ‘Umar Radhiyallahu anhuma, he said, “Rasulullah sallallaahu’ alaihi wa sallam said: ثلاث لا ترد الوسائد والدهن واللبن. “Three things that should not be rejected; pillows, hair oil and milk. “ 5. Prohibition of Refusing Prizes Though Not Offered Sometimes a person does not offer a gift to be given. However, as Rasulullah suggests we are not allowed to reject it. As Rasulullah shollallahu alaihi wasallam also said: “Whoever is offered something without asking it then he should accept it.” (HR Ahmad) Based on the Quran In the Qur’an, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says: “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it [in bribery] to the rulers in order that [they might aid] you [to] consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know [it is unlawful].[Al-Baqarah: 188] In this case, there is a provision in rejecting the prize if in the awarding of the gift there is an element to the case of the haram. For example bribery or bribery. So in this case Allah SWT recommends to refuse the gift or that reward. Because if it is accepted then based on the law, it will be sinful. Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam said, “Allah curses those who bribe and those who accept bribes in the law.” (Shahihul Jami ‘[5093])
Reply Gift with another Gift
Rasululah SAW always reply to every gift he received with other prizes. This is then also recommended to his people.
As From ‘Aisha Radhiyallahu anhuma, he said :
أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ يَقْبَلُ الْهَدِيَّةَ وَيُثِيْبُ عَلَيْهَا.
“Rasulullah Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam received a gift and he responded.”
Same as Rejecting Sustenance
As in a hadith it is mentioned:
“Whoever Allah has sent him something of this treasure, without him asking for it, let him receive it, for it is indeed the sustenance Allah has sent to him” (Sahih At Targhib).
In the hadith explained that gifts and sustenance are the same thing. Therefore when you reject the gift given, then it is the same as you reject the provision of Allah SWT as the shape and manner of gratitude according to Islam.
Refuse If we are Uzur
Rasulullah shollallahu alaihi wasallam once rejected the gift from one of his best friend in the form of wild donkey when he was doing ihram. One day Umar radhiyallahu ‘anhu was rewarded by Rasulallah, Umar recounts,
“Rasulullah shallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam gave me a gift, and I said, ‘Give it to someone more wicked than me’, so he replied, ‘Take, when it comes to you something of this treasure, while you are not greedy nor ask it, then take it and keep it for you, if you want it, then eat. And if you do not want it, do shadaqah with it ‘. “(Muttafaqun alaihi).
Well, that’s the five laws of refusing gifts in Islam. Of course hopefully more can increase your knowledge about this.
And hopefully by knowing this then you will be more wise in the case of giving, receiving or refusing gifts. So that, of course, what you do can be in accordance with Islamic teachings and shari’a. (Read Benefit of Kindness in Islam). Hopefully this article can be useful.
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