Giving gifts in an act of giving something valuable to other person in order to please them or as a sign of gratitude. In modern days, giving gifts has become very common in every level of society. In Islam, the act of giving gifts and receiving them is not prohibited, even encouraged at some level. Upon receiving gifts, a person would be really happy and thankful, thus become a good deed for the gifts giver. And when the gift are useful and benefited for the receiver, it would be benefited for the giver as well.
Exchanging gifts between friends, relatives, and neighbors is a strongly recommended acts since its a good way to promotes mutual love and consideration. Of course, giving gifts should be done by a sincere heart, so that it could removes the ill feeling and hatred between the giver and the receiver. Its how the importance of gifts in Islam is very big.
Here are more on importance of gift in Islam:
1. Sunnah from the Prophet
Giving gifts is something the the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself had done in the past. It’s why gifts are not haraam in Islam. Not only accepting, but a Muslim should be give something in return too. As narrated by Aisha (RA)
“The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to accept gifts and used to give something in return.” – Bukhari
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2. It Increases Love and Affection
Another benefit for gifts that makes them important in Islam is how it brings love and affection between two peoples: the gift giver and the receiver. Giving gifts should not be in a particular or special occasion. We can give gifts whenever we want in daily basis, and it doesn’t have to be meet any particular standard. As the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Exchange gifts, as that will lead to increasing your love to one another.” – Bukhari
3. A Tools to Seek the Pleasure of Allah
There are many ways to seek the pleasure and bless from Allah SWT. How could gifts become one of them? Because gifts promote harmony and love between Muslim. What can please Allah SWT more than seeing His slaves living in unity? And Allah’s pleasure will be a great help on the Day of Judgement. So that giving gifts under the intention of pleasing Allah SWT is highly encouraged.
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4. Giving Gifts is a Praiseworthy Act
If our intention in giving gifts and receiving them is to seek the pleasure of Allah SWT as well as following Sunnah from the Prophet (peace be upon him), the act will be very praiseworthy. The original purpose of human creation is to please Allah SWT in everything they do. Never forget to mention Allah’s name whenever you give gifts or receiving it one another.
5. It Removes Ill from the Heart
Friction between Muslim is sometimes unavoidable and misunderstanding grows. In Islam, we’re not allowed to be having a bad feeling more than three days. So we must seek for reconciliation, and it can be done by giving gifts. It was narrated by Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) once said,
“Exchange presents with one another. Presents remove ill-will from the hearts.” – Tirmizi
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6. A Gift Should be Valued
In receiving gifts, a Muslim should do it with a pleased heart and valued the gifts like no other. Abu Hurairah (RA) has once reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Give presents to one another. Presents remove malice from the hearts, and a female neighbor should not regard the gift of a part of the feet of a goat to another female neighbor as of no value.” – Tirmizi
7. Islam Encourages Exchanging Gifts
Giving gifts is encouraged by Islam, from Jabir who related that the Prophet 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 and Abu Dawood
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8. Gifts As a Gratitude
We can say thank you in many ways, and giving gifts even make it better. It’s how we show gratitude to someone who has done us a favor. As reported by Abu Hurairah (RA), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Whoever failed to give thanks to anyone who did a favor to him failed to give thanks to God.” – Ahmad and Tirmizi
9. Gifts Should Not be Rejected
Whoever send us the gifts, we must never reject it, since it may hurts the one who has sent us one. Abdullah bin Omar reported that the Prophet said,
“There are three things which, particularly, should not be refused: a pillow, oil (used for applying to hair etc.,) and milk.” – Tirmizi
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10. Gift Exchange is a Good Deed
Good deed can be gained in many ways, one of them is giving gifts to other. It’s one of a good manners that helps maintain the relation between two people and make them stronger as well. It’s why exchanging gifts ia highly recommended in Islam.
11. It Strengthen Bond Between Muslims
Giving gifts and receiving them could strengthen the bond between Muslims, and it’s a good deed that may please others. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Whoever does you a favour, respond in kind, and if you cannot find the means of doing so, then keep praying for him until you think that you have responded in kind.” – Abu Dawood
12. Gift Could be Better Than Charity
There are kind of gifts that said to be better than charity, when one gives gifts to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) during his lifetime. Nowadays that we clearly unable to send any gifts to the Prophet (peace be upon him), there are still gifts who are better than charity. It’s a gift that given to uphold the ties of kinship between Muslims.
13. It Removes Any Bad Feelings
Giving gifts may removes any bad feeling, like the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
“Give gifts, for indeed gifts removes bad feeling from the chest. Do not let a person look down upon (the gifts given by his or) her neighbour, even if it be a sheep shank.” – Tirmizi
So those are all the importance of gifts in Islam. May we can gain benefit from it.