Unfortunately, the habit of giving presents to one another, with an earnest heart, is fast disappearing among the Muslims, as a whole, and though it is still done, to some extent, in relation to holy men, it is seldom that one offers a gift to a friend, relative or neighbour despite the fact that it is an unfailing recipe handed down to us by the Apostle of God of happiness and good social relations and a sure means to earning the countenance of the Lord.

(1) It is related by Ayesha that the Apostle of God said: “Exchange presents with one another. Presents remove ill-will from the hearts.”
– Tirmizi

(2) Abu Hurairah relates, saying that the Apostle of God said: “Give presents to one another. Presents remove malice from the hearts, and a female neighbour should not regard the gift of a part of the feet of a goat to another female neighbour as of no value.”
– Tirmizi

(3) Narrates Ayesha that “the practice of the Apostle of God was that he accepted a gift and offered (one) himself in return for it.
– Bukhari

(4) It is related by Jabir that the Apostle of God said: “If a present is made to anyone, and he has something to give in return, he should offer it, and if he has nothing to give (in return), he should praise him (by way of gratitude), and say a good word in his behalf. Whoever did it, fulfilled the claim of gratitude, and whoever did not. And concealed a favour (done to him), was guilty of ingratitude, and whoever flaunts a virtue that, has not been granted to him is like a man who wears a double croak of deception.”
– Tirmizi, Abu Dawood

(5) It is related by Abu Hurairah that the Apostle of God said: “Whoever failed to give thanks to anyone who did a favour to him failed to give thanks to God.”
– Musnad-i-Ahmad andTirmizi

(6) It is related by Osama bin laid that the Apostle of God said: “Whoever did a favour to anyone and the recipient prayed for his benefactor, saying Jazaak Allah Khaira (May Allah give thee a good reward for it), he (the recipent), also, praised him fully (through it).”
– Tirmizi

(7) Anas related to us that when the Apostle of God migrated to Medina, (and theMahajirshad an experience of the hospitality and unselfishness of theAnsars), they, one day, said to the Apostle: “We have not seen people like them, i.e., the Ansars of Medina anywhere, (They spend generously on us) if they are well-provided, and even those that are not in good condition help us and take care of our needs. They have taken all the responsibility for toil and labour upon themselves, and, (yet), made us a sharer in the profits. (As a result of the unique self-denial and liberality on their part), we fear that they took all the reward and recompense, (and we remained empty-handed in the Hereafter).” “No,” the Apostle of God replied. “It will not be so as long as you pray for them and express a sincere appreciation (of their goodness and magnanimity).”
– Tirmizi

(8) It is related by Abu Hurairah that the Apostle of God said: “Whoever is offered a sweet-smelling flower should accept it, and not reject it because it is a very ordinary thing. Its fragrance is a thing of joy.”
– Muslim

(9) It is related by Abdullah bin Omar that the Apostle of God said: “There are three things which, particularly, should not be refused: a pillow, oil (used for applying to hair etc.,) and milk.”
– Tirmizi

(10) (Both) Abdullah bin Omar and Abdullah bin Abbas related to us, saying that the Apostle of God said: “It is not proper for anyone of you to offer something to a person, as a gift, and, then, claim it back. Of course, if a father gives anything to his children, he is exempted from it. (He can take it back) for a father has every kind of claim on his children.” (Explaining the wretchedness of the act), the Apostle of God, further, observed that “whoever claims back a gift, after giving it, is like the dog who ate something and when its stomach was filled to capacity, vomited it, and ate up the vomit.”
– Abu Dawood, Tirmizi, Nissai, Ibn-i-Maja

(11) It is related by Jabir that the Apostle of God said: “Gifts (accepted by) the ruler are Ghuloo1, i.e., an excess and a transgression. (It is similar, in a way, to bribery, embezzlement and oppression).”
– Tabrani

(12) It is related by Umama that the Apostle of God said: “Whoever interceded for anyone, and the person on behalf of whom he interceded made him a present, in consideration of the intercession, and he accepted the present, was guilty of a worst form of usury.”
– Abu Dawood