Taken from the book “Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – In Light of the Qur'an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbānī
Is it permissible to accept a gift from a polytheist or disbeliever? Likewise, can a gift be given to a disbeliever or polytheist? Kindly provide guidance in the light of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
If a polytheist or disbeliever gives a Muslim a gift, then it is permissible to accept it, as long as the gifted item is permissible for use in Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted gifts sent by disbelievers on several occasions.
Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله, in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Gifts, Chapter: “Accepting Gifts from Polytheists”, has established this permissibility by presenting the following evidences:
① Narrated by Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Ibrāhīm عليه السلام migrated with Sārah عليها السلام and reached a city ruled by a polytheist and oppressive king. He said: ‘Give her (Hājar) to him (Ibrāhīm).’”
This narration has been mentioned briefly in the chapter under discussion and in detail in:
This narration clearly proves that the tyrant and oppressive Pharaoh gifted Lady Hājar to Ibrāhīm عليه السلام, and he accepted the gift. Since this occurred in a previous Sharīʿah (legislation), and unless our Sharīʿah prohibits such actions, they remain valid for us. And regarding such gifts, our Sharīʿah contains no prohibition.
② Narrated by Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
A Jewish woman brought poisoned meat of a goat to the Prophet ﷺ. He ate some of it. When the woman was brought before him, she confessed to having poisoned the meat. People said, “Shall we not kill her?” He replied, “No.”
Anas رضي الله عنه said:
“I continued to see the effects of the poison on the palate of the Prophet ﷺ.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Gifts – Chapter: Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2617)]
③ While traveling from Makkah to Egypt, the Prophet ﷺ passed by the port city of Eilā, where the Christian ruler, Yūḥannā ibn Ubah, gifted him a white robe and a cloak. The Prophet ﷺ wrote to him and allowed him to remain as the ruler of his people, since he agreed to pay jizyah (tribute).
[See: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Zakāh – Chapter: Presentation of Dates (1481); Musnad al-Dārimī: 2537]
④ Narrated by Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ received a silk garment as a gift, which was sent to him by Ukaydir, a Christian ruler of Dūmah (near Tabūk).
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Gifts – Chapter: Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2615–2616)]
⑤ Narrated by ʿAbdur-Raḥmān bin Abī Bakr رضي الله عنهما:
“We were 130 men with the Prophet ﷺ. He asked, ‘Does anyone have any food?’ A Companion had a small amount of dough, which was kneaded. Then a tall, worried-looking polytheist man arrived herding some goats. The Prophet ﷺ asked him, ‘Will you sell one, or give it as a gift?’ Or perhaps he said offering instead of gift. The man replied, ‘No, I will sell it.’ So the Prophet ﷺ purchased a goat, had it slaughtered, and ordered its liver to be cooked. I swear by Allah! He gave a portion to each of the 130 men. Those present were given at that moment, and portions were saved for those who were not. The remaining meat was placed in two large containers and carried back on a camel.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Gifts – Chapter: Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2618)]
From the above narrations, it becomes evident that the Prophet ﷺ accepted gifts from polytheists, and the last ḥadīth even shows the Prophet ﷺ inquiring whether the goat would be sold or gifted—indicating permissibility of accepting gifts from polytheists.
There is a narration from ʿIyāḍ bin Ḥimār which says that he gifted a she-camel to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet asked:
“Have you embraced Islam?”
He replied: “No.”
So the Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been prohibited from accepting gifts from polytheists.”
[Abū Dāwūd – Book of Land Taxes – Chapter: Ruler Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2007); al-Tirmidhī: 1977; Musnad al-Ṭayālisī: 1083; al-Muntaqā by Ibn al-Jārūd: 1110]
This narration is weak due to the tadlīs (concealment) by Qatādah, and also contradicts authentic narrations.
Similarly, the narration from Mūsā bin ʿUqbah in Kitāb al-Maghāzī, stating that ʿĀmir bin Mālik, a polytheist, offered a gift to the Prophet ﷺ and was refused with the statement:
“I do not accept gifts from polytheists,”
—this narration is mursal (disconnected) and therefore weak. Some have narrated it mawṣūl (connected) from al-Zuhrī, but it is not authentic.
Refer to: Fatḥ al-Bārī (5/230), Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī (5/188) for further analysis.
Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله, to prove the permissibility of gifting to disbelievers, cites the following verse from the Qur'an:
“Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just to those who have not fought you because of religion nor expelled you from your homes.”
[Sūrah al-Mumtaḥanah: 8]
This verse indicates that good treatment, kindness, and justice towards non-combatant disbelievers is allowed. However, this does not mean that one should form deep friendships or emotional bonds with them. For Allah has forbidden taking them as close companions:
“O you who believe! Do not take as intimate confidants those other than yourselves, for they spare no effort to ruin you...”
[Āl ʿImrān: 118]
✔ A Muslim may accept a gift from a disbeliever or polytheist, provided the gift is not something impermissible in Islam.
✔ Similarly, a Muslim may give a gift to a non-combatant disbeliever or polytheist, as an act of goodwill and worldly kindness, not as a sign of friendship or affection.
✔ The weak narrations prohibiting this are not reliable, while the authentic Sunnah supports permissibility.
✔ However, emotional ties and deep friendships with disbelievers are prohibited, as the standard of loyalty and enmity for a Muslim is Islam.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to accept a gift from a polytheist or disbeliever? Likewise, can a gift be given to a disbeliever or polytheist? Kindly provide guidance in the light of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
✿ Answer:
If a polytheist or disbeliever gives a Muslim a gift, then it is permissible to accept it, as long as the gifted item is permissible for use in Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ accepted gifts sent by disbelievers on several occasions.
Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله, in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Book of Gifts, Chapter: “Accepting Gifts from Polytheists”, has established this permissibility by presenting the following evidences:
◈ Evidences from Sunnah
① Narrated by Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Ibrāhīm عليه السلام migrated with Sārah عليها السلام and reached a city ruled by a polytheist and oppressive king. He said: ‘Give her (Hājar) to him (Ibrāhīm).’”
This narration has been mentioned briefly in the chapter under discussion and in detail in:
- Kitāb Aḥādīth al-Anbiyāʾ
- Chapter: Allah took Ibrāhīm as a Khalīl
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 3358, 2217]
This narration clearly proves that the tyrant and oppressive Pharaoh gifted Lady Hājar to Ibrāhīm عليه السلام, and he accepted the gift. Since this occurred in a previous Sharīʿah (legislation), and unless our Sharīʿah prohibits such actions, they remain valid for us. And regarding such gifts, our Sharīʿah contains no prohibition.
② Narrated by Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
A Jewish woman brought poisoned meat of a goat to the Prophet ﷺ. He ate some of it. When the woman was brought before him, she confessed to having poisoned the meat. People said, “Shall we not kill her?” He replied, “No.”
Anas رضي الله عنه said:
“I continued to see the effects of the poison on the palate of the Prophet ﷺ.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Gifts – Chapter: Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2617)]
③ While traveling from Makkah to Egypt, the Prophet ﷺ passed by the port city of Eilā, where the Christian ruler, Yūḥannā ibn Ubah, gifted him a white robe and a cloak. The Prophet ﷺ wrote to him and allowed him to remain as the ruler of his people, since he agreed to pay jizyah (tribute).
[See: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Zakāh – Chapter: Presentation of Dates (1481); Musnad al-Dārimī: 2537]
④ Narrated by Sayyidunā Anas bin Mālik رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ received a silk garment as a gift, which was sent to him by Ukaydir, a Christian ruler of Dūmah (near Tabūk).
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Gifts – Chapter: Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2615–2616)]
⑤ Narrated by ʿAbdur-Raḥmān bin Abī Bakr رضي الله عنهما:
“We were 130 men with the Prophet ﷺ. He asked, ‘Does anyone have any food?’ A Companion had a small amount of dough, which was kneaded. Then a tall, worried-looking polytheist man arrived herding some goats. The Prophet ﷺ asked him, ‘Will you sell one, or give it as a gift?’ Or perhaps he said offering instead of gift. The man replied, ‘No, I will sell it.’ So the Prophet ﷺ purchased a goat, had it slaughtered, and ordered its liver to be cooked. I swear by Allah! He gave a portion to each of the 130 men. Those present were given at that moment, and portions were saved for those who were not. The remaining meat was placed in two large containers and carried back on a camel.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī – Book of Gifts – Chapter: Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2618)]
From the above narrations, it becomes evident that the Prophet ﷺ accepted gifts from polytheists, and the last ḥadīth even shows the Prophet ﷺ inquiring whether the goat would be sold or gifted—indicating permissibility of accepting gifts from polytheists.
◈ Clarification Regarding Some Weak Narrations
There is a narration from ʿIyāḍ bin Ḥimār which says that he gifted a she-camel to the Prophet ﷺ, and the Prophet asked:
“Have you embraced Islam?”
He replied: “No.”
So the Prophet ﷺ said:
“I have been prohibited from accepting gifts from polytheists.”
[Abū Dāwūd – Book of Land Taxes – Chapter: Ruler Accepting Gifts from Polytheists (2007); al-Tirmidhī: 1977; Musnad al-Ṭayālisī: 1083; al-Muntaqā by Ibn al-Jārūd: 1110]
This narration is weak due to the tadlīs (concealment) by Qatādah, and also contradicts authentic narrations.
Similarly, the narration from Mūsā bin ʿUqbah in Kitāb al-Maghāzī, stating that ʿĀmir bin Mālik, a polytheist, offered a gift to the Prophet ﷺ and was refused with the statement:
“I do not accept gifts from polytheists,”
—this narration is mursal (disconnected) and therefore weak. Some have narrated it mawṣūl (connected) from al-Zuhrī, but it is not authentic.
Refer to: Fatḥ al-Bārī (5/230), Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī (5/188) for further analysis.
✿ Can a Gift be Given to a Polytheist or Disbeliever?
Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله, to prove the permissibility of gifting to disbelievers, cites the following verse from the Qur'an:
﴿ لَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ أَنْ تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ﴾
“Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just to those who have not fought you because of religion nor expelled you from your homes.”
[Sūrah al-Mumtaḥanah: 8]This verse indicates that good treatment, kindness, and justice towards non-combatant disbelievers is allowed. However, this does not mean that one should form deep friendships or emotional bonds with them. For Allah has forbidden taking them as close companions:
﴿ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّخِذُوا بِطَانَةً مِّن دُونِكُمْ لَا يَأْلُونَكُمْ خَبَالًا... ﴾
“O you who believe! Do not take as intimate confidants those other than yourselves, for they spare no effort to ruin you...”
[Āl ʿImrān: 118]
Conclusion:
✔ A Muslim may accept a gift from a disbeliever or polytheist, provided the gift is not something impermissible in Islam.
✔ Similarly, a Muslim may give a gift to a non-combatant disbeliever or polytheist, as an act of goodwill and worldly kindness, not as a sign of friendship or affection.
✔ The weak narrations prohibiting this are not reliable, while the authentic Sunnah supports permissibility.
✔ However, emotional ties and deep friendships with disbelievers are prohibited, as the standard of loyalty and enmity for a Muslim is Islam.
