Gifts

Changing one's intention regarding giving something to someone

Q:

1. I have made niyyat to give someone something then later I changed my decision and thought I will not give. Is it allowed for me to change my decision after making niyyat to give to that person?

2) I have made niyyat to give a dress as charity to Zaid, then is it allowed for me to give the same dress for Umar as charity, because I found Umar is more deserving than Zaid? Can I change my decision this way? Whenever I make niyyat to give something to someone is it necessary that I give that thing to the same person I made niyyat for or I can give it to someone else whom I like?

Eating from that which one intended to give to a certain person

Q: My question is one night I prepared little macaroni. I ate from it and then I kept a little for my brother to eat in the morning because by that time my brother was asleep and he didn't know that I made macaroni, but the other day I had to fast so when I woke up for sehri I ate that very macaroni which I kept for my brother. Am I sinning this way? Will it become his haq after I decide to give him? will I have to ask maafi for not giving him? I am afraid whether I have eaten the haq of my brother.

Doubts regarding the income of the person giving the gift

Q: A Muslim relative is known to have been involved in taking drugs and alcohol. I do not know the source of his income i.e. whether he even deals in drugs or not. He has been in and out of rehab many times. I do not know his current condition. He sends a gift for me.

(1) Is this gift permissible for me?

(2) If it is not permissible, must it be given in charity without the intention of reward?

Taking back a gift

Q: A young aalim mentioned that it is permissible to take back a gift, although undesirable and in the hadith it is likened to a dog swallowing it's own vomit Is this correct? If I give someone a gift and give full ownership to the person I can take it back at any time?

Taking possession of the gift

Q: Zaid, Umar, and Bakr are friends. Zaid has an item in his hand and asks Umar, "Umar, do you want this?" Umar replies in the affirmative. Zaid then places the item on the table in front of him. Umar leaves the room without the item. He intends fetching the item later on. Bakr is not aware of all this. Later in the day, Umar sees Bakr going home with the same item. When Umar asks Zaid about this, Zaid replies: "You did not take physical possession of the item. I thought you never want this gift. That is why I gave it to Bakr." Umar objects saying that he responded in the affirmative when Zaid asked if he wanted the item.

1. Who truly owns the item?

2. Is it true that since Umar did not take physical possession of the item, it still belongs to the original owner, Zaid?