Question:
Tirmidhi Hadith 1502 says that gifts from polytheists should not be accepted and are disliked. Is it authentic?
Answer:
This hadith exists (number variations occur in different editions). It reports that a man named Iyad ibn Himar, who was not Muslim at that time, gifted the Prophetﷺ a camel or another present. The Prophetﷺ asked whether he had accepted Islam. When he replied no, the Prophetﷺ said he was prohibited from accepting gifts from polytheists and returned it. Later, that man accepted Islam.
Scholars generally consider the chain of narration authentic. However, the content requires deeper examination. If this hadith is accepted without comparison, it would mean Muslims cannot accept any assistance from non-Muslims, including government aid or even simple social interactions like accepting tea from a non-Muslim friend. This would create major social complications. But if the Prophetﷺ truly said it, Muslims must accept it.
Therefore, other hadiths on the same topic must be examined. Many hadiths show that the Prophetﷺ accepted gifts from non-Muslims.
For example, Bukhari Hadith 2616 mentions a ruler named Ukaidir of Duma, who was not Muslim, gifting the Prophetﷺ something, which the Prophetﷺ accepted.
Another narration mentions a non-Muslim man gifting the Prophetﷺ a white mule, which the Prophetﷺ used, including during the Battle of Hunayn. This is reported in Sahih Muslim.
A narration from Aisha (Mother of Believers) mentions that the Egyptian ruler Muqawqis, who was not Muslim, gifted the Prophetﷺ items such as a mirror, comb, and cosmetic container. The Prophetﷺ accepted them.
The same ruler also gifted two slave women. One of them, Maria al-Qibtiyya, later became the mother of the Prophetﷺ’s son Ibrahim. These reports are found in reliable sources.
Another narration mentions that a ruler from a region called Luysin gifted the Prophetﷺ an expensive set of garments valued at thirty-three camels. The Prophetﷺ wore it once and then gave it away. This is recorded in authenticated sources.
During preparations for the Battle of Hunayn, the Prophetﷺ borrowed weapons from Safwan ibn Umayyah, who was still a non-Muslim. Safwan willingly provided them and even fought alongside the Muslims while still not Muslim.
These examples show that the Prophetﷺ accepted help and gifts from non-Muslims. Therefore, the narration prohibiting acceptance of gifts appears doubtful, even if its chain is technically authentic. When many stronger narrations contradict a single narration, scholars often give preference to the stronger and more numerous reports.
Therefore, the narration in Tirmidhi should be presented with explanatory notes stating that many other hadiths show the Prophetﷺ accepted gifts from non-Muslims. Without such clarification, it could create misunderstanding, especially in multicultural societies.
In hadith methodology, if numerous narrations support one ruling and a single narration contradicts them, the contradictory narration is considered weak in meaning. Scholars give the example of another hadith about raising hands in prayer, which some Companions reported differently. Even though one narration is authentic, it is rejected because many stronger narrations contradict it.
Similarly, many authentic narrations confirm that the Prophetﷺ accepted gifts from non-Muslims. Therefore, the hadith claiming that gifts from non-Muslims should not be accepted is rejected.