It is narrated from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the king of Rome sent the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) a long-sleeved cloak made of fine silk as a gift, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wore it. It is as if I am still looking at its sleeves, which were moving because of their length. The people said: O Messenger of Allah! Was this garment sent down to you from the heavens? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Why are you so astonished? By the One in Whose hand is my soul! The handkerchief of Sa’d bin Mu’adh (may Allah be pleased with him) in Paradise is better than this. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent it to our master Ja’far (may Allah be pleased with him). When he wore it, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: I did not give it to you to wear. He said: Then what should I do with it? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Send it to your brother Najashi.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that Kisra sent a gift to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted it. Caesar gave him (peace and blessings be upon him) a present, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted it. Other kings also gave him (peace and blessings be upon him) gifts, which he (peace and blessings be upon him) accepted.

Abdullah bin Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them both) says: Qateelah bint Abdul Uzza brought gifts of dried lizard, cheese, and ghee to her daughter, Sayyida Asma bint Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both), while she was a polytheist woman. So Sayyida Asma (may Allah be pleased with her) refused to accept her gifts and to let her enter her house. When Sayyida Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) about this, Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: {لَا یَنْہَاکُمُ اللّٰہُ عَنِ الَّذِیْنَ لَمْ یُقَاتِلُوْکُمْ فِی الدِّیْنِ وَلَمْ یُخْرِجُوْکُمْ مِّنْ دِیَارِکُمْ اَنْ تَبَرُّوْھُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوْآ اِلَیْھِمْ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِیْنَ۔} … Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes—from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly. (Surah Al-Mumtahanah: 8) Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered Sayyida Asma to accept her mother’s gifts and to let her enter her house.