Sahih Muslim — hadith #4026–#4050
The verbatim English translation of each narration. Use the interactive reader for search and themes.
Sahih al-Bukhari uses the standard numbering. A Bukhari number here is the same narration you will find under that number on sunnah.com or in a printed edition.
Sahih Muslim is different, and this matters. Our Muslim numbers are site reader numbers — a running count through this translation, in which each chain of narration is listed separately. That gives about 7,458 entries where the standard numbering has roughly 3,000. A Sahih Muslim number on this site will not find the same hadith on sunnah.com, and following it there will usually land you on a different narration entirely. To check a Muslim narration elsewhere, search for its wording rather than its number. We state this plainly because a number that looks authoritative and is not is worse than no number at all.
The themes are our own navigational grouping, and these translations are no substitute for study of the Arabic with qualified scholars (see our editorial policy). A small number of entries with no translated text are omitted rather than guessed at.
Aba Ishaq reported this hadith on the authority of al-Bara' (Allah be pleased with him) with a slight variation of words, viz. the last sura that was revealed complete.
Al-Bara' (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the last verse revealed was: " They ask of thee religious verdict.." (iv. 177).
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the body of a dead person having burden of debt upon him was brought to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) he would ask whether he had left property enough to clear off his debt, and if the property left had been sufficient for that (purpose), he observed funeral prayer for him, otherwise he said (to his companions): You observe prayer for your companion. But when Allah opened the gateways of victory for him, he said: I am nearer to the believers than themselves, so if anyone dies leaving a debt, its payment is my responsibility, and if anyone leaves a property, it goes to his heirs.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of al-Zuhri through another chain of transmitters.
Abn Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said this: By Him in Whose Hand is the life of Muhammad, there is no believer on the earth with whom I am not the nearest among all the people. He who amongst you (dies) and leaves a debt, I am there to pay it, and he who amongst you (dies) leaving behind children I am there to look after them. And he who amongst You leaves behind property, that is for the inheritor whoever he is.
Hammam b. Munabbih reported: This is what Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) narrated to us from Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him). And he narrated many ahadith, and one was this: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him said: I am, according to the Book of Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, nearest to the believers of all the human beings. So whoever amongst you dies in debt or leaves behind destitute children, you should call me (for help) ), for I am his guardian. And who amongst you leaves property, his inheritor is entitled to get it, whoever he is.
Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: He who leaves property, that is for the inheritors; and he who leaves behind destitute children, then it is my responsibility (to look after them).
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters.
Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) reported: I donated a pedigree horse in the path of Allah. Its possessor made it languish. I thought that he would sell it at a cheap price. I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it, whereupon he said: Don't buy it and do not get back your charity, for one who gets back the charity is like a dog who swallows its vomit.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Malik b. Anas with the same chain of transmitters but with this addition: " Don't buy that even if he gives you for one dirham."
Zaid b. Aslam reported on the authority of his father that 'Umar (Allah be pleased with him) donated a horse in the path of Allah. He found that it had languished in the hand of its possessor, and he was a man of meagre resources He (Hadrat 'Umar) intended to buy it. He came to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and made a mention of that to him, whereupon he said: Don't buy that even if you get it for a dirham for he who gets back the charity is like a dog which swallows its vomit.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zaid b. Aslam with the same chain of transmitters but with this (change) that the hadith transmitted on the authority of Malik and Rauh (he was the son of Qisirn) is more complete and lengthy.
Ibn 'Umar reported that 'Umar b. al-Khattib (Allah be pleased with him) donated a horse in the path of Allah and (later on) he found it being sold, and he decided to buy that. He asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about it. whereupon he (the Holy prophet) said: Don't buy that and do not get back what you gave in charity.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Ibn Umar through another chain of transmitters.
Salim reported from Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) that 'Umar donated a horse in the path of Allah and then found it being sold, and he decided to buy that. He asked Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) about it, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Umar, do not get back what you gave as charity.
Ibn 'Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) having said this: He who gets back his charity is like a dog which vomits, and then returns to that and eats it.
This hadith is also reported through another chain.
A hadith like this is reported on the authority of Muhammad son of Fatima (Allah be pleased with her) daughter of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say: The similitude of one who gives a charity and then gets it back is like that of a dog which vomits and then eats its vomit.
Ibn Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: One who gets back the gift is like one who eats vomit.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Qatada with the same chain of transmitters.
Abdullah b. Tawus reported on the authority of his father who reported from Ibn Abas (Allah be pleased with them) who reported from Allah's Messenger 'may peace be upon him) that he said: One who gets back his gift is like a dog which vomits and then swallows that vomit.
Nu'man b. Bashir reported that his father brought him to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I have donated this slave of mine to my son. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Have you donated to every one of your sons (a slave) like this? He said: No. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace he upon him) said: Then take him back.
Nu'man b. Bashir reported: My father brought me to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and said: I have donated this slave to my son. whereupon he said: Have you made (such) donation to every one or your sons? He said: No. Thereupon he (the-Holy Prophet) said: Then take him back.
This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with different chains of transmitters and a slight variation of words.