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Encyclopedia of Religion entry for
Gifts
Arabic hibah Muhammad sanctioned the retraction of a gift when he said "A donor preserves his right to his gift, so long as he does not obtain a return for it." Although there is another tradition which says: "Let not a donor retract his gift; but let a father if he pleases retract his gift to his son." Ash-Shafi ‘i maintains that it is not lawful to retract a gift, except it be from a father to a son. All the doctors are agreed that to retract a gist is an abomination, for Muhammad said: "the retraction of a gift is like earing one ‘s spittle." The general opinion is that a gift to a stranger may be retracted, but not a gift to a kinsman. A retracted gift, by the mutual consent of the parties, should be effected by a decree of the Qazi, or judge. (Hidayah, vol iii p 290.) 
pl. hibat. A deed of gift. The term Hibah in the language of Muslim law means a transfer of property made immediately and without exchange. He who makes the gift is called the Wahib, or donor; the thing given, mauhub; and the person to whom it is given in mauhub lahu.
citations: Dictionary of Islam, Hughes
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12
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