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Exchanging gifts is a Sunnah

Question

Last Month we visited one of my wife relative cousin she gave us a Pen Quran what does such act means...let us know if it is positive or negative effect on us......we just want to know exact about this act so surprise us many time we visited their house but not such attitude with her....reply

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We cannot decisively determine the meaning or reason for this gesture of your wife’s cousin and its potential effect. However, in principle, the Muslim should have good expectations of his fellow Muslims and should not think ill of them or their attitudes until proven otherwise. ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him said: “Do not think ill of a word that your believing brother utters as long as it can be interpreted in a good way.

The point is that your wife's cousin gave you this Pen Quran as a gift; it is, actually, a beneficial gift and you can benefit from it by listening to the Quran and learning the correct recitation. Therefore, you should do so and you should also reciprocate her act of kindness with similar kindness. Abu Hurayrah  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Exchange gifts, for indeed the gift removes malice from the heart.” [Ahmad]

Moreover, ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar  may  Allaah  be  pleased  with  him narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “… and if anyone does an act of kindness for you, repay his favor and kindness; but if you do not have the means to do so, supplicate Allaah for him until you feel that you have repayed him equally.” [Abu Daawood]

You should beware of thinking ill of others; it is a grave and serious matter that may incur graver evils and misdeeds. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is accepting of repentance and Merciful.} [Quran 49:12]

Allaah Knows best.

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