Short answer
No. Once charity reaches the person or cause you gave it to, it is theirs, and taking it back is strongly condemned: the Prophet ﷺ compared it to going back to one's own vomit. You may not even buy it back cheaply. If you only set money aside or promised it and have not handed it over, you may still change your mind, unless you made a vow.
Sadaqah becomes final once the recipient takes possession and cannot be revoked. Money set aside but not yet handed over remains the giver's, unless it was vowed (nadhr) or is zakat already due.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Umar gave a horse to a man to ride in Allah's way, and the man neglected it. Umar thought of buying it back cheaply, and asked the Prophet ﷺ, who said: do not buy it and do not take back your charity, even if he sells it to you for one dirham, for the one who takes back his charity is like one who goes back to his vomit.
So once the poor person, the mosque or the charity has received what you gave, it belongs to them. You cannot ask for it back because you regret it, because you need the money, or because the recipient disappointed you. The four schools agree on this for charity given for Allah's sake.
Some cases that are different:
- Money you set aside at home for charity but have not handed over is still yours. You should give it, but it is not lost to you, unless you made a vow (nazr) to give it, or it is zakat you already owe.
- A pledge at a fundraiser is a promise. Keep it, as keeping promises is part of faith.
- If the charity comes back to you through no plan of yours, such as an inheritance, it is lawful. A woman who gave her mother a slave woman in charity was told, when the mother died, that her reward was secured and the inheritance had returned it to her.
Do not spoil charity afterwards with reminders or hurtful words either; the Quran says these cancel its reward. See who can receive nazr money.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:264
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُبْطِلُوا۟ صَدَقَٰتِكُم بِٱلْمَنِّ وَٱلْأَذَىٰ كَٱلَّذِى يُنفِقُ مَالَهُۥ رِئَآءَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَا يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۖ فَمَثَلُهُۥ كَمَثَلِ صَفْوَانٍ عَلَيْهِ تُرَابٌۭ فَأَصَابَهُۥ وَابِلٌۭ فَتَرَكَهُۥ صَلْدًۭا ۖ لَّا يَقْدِرُونَ عَلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ مِّمَّا كَسَبُوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ﴿٢٦٤﴾
O you who have believed, do not invalidate your charities with reminders or injury as does one who spends his wealth [only] to be seen by the people and does not believe in Allah and the Last Day. His example is like that of a [large] smooth stone upon which is dust and is hit by a downpour that leaves it bare. They are unable [to keep] anything of what they have earned. And Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.
Charity, once given, should not be undone or spoiled.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1490
Sahih... لا تشتر ولا تعد في صدقتك وإن أعطاكه بدرهم ...
"Do not buy it and do not take back your charity, even if he gives it to you for a dirham."
Taking back charity, even by buying it, is forbidden.
Sahih Muslim 1149
Sahih... وجب أجرك وردها عليك الميراث ...
"Your reward is secured, and the inheritance has returned it to you."
Charity that comes back by inheritance is lawful to keep.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Hiba, chapter on taking back a gift. Sadaqah given to a poor person cannot be taken back once received.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.