Hadith: I gave the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) a zebra as a gift

عن الصعب بن جَثَّامَةَ رضي الله عنه ، قال: أهديتُ رسولَ الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - حماراً وحشياً، فَرَدَّهُ عَلَيَّ، فلما رأى ما في وجهي، قال: «إنا لم نَرُدَّهُ عليك إلا لأنَّا حُرُمٌ».
[صحيح] - [متفق عليه]

As-Sa‘b ibn Jaththāmah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I gave the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) a zebra as a gift, but he returned it to me. When he saw my face (being sad) he said: "We only refused it because we are in a state of Ihrām."
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim]

Explanation

One of the aspects of the excellent moral character of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was that he never flattered people at the expense of Allah's religion; but he never failed to soothe their hearts as well. While the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was in a state of "Ihrām", he happened to pass by As-Sa‘b ibn Jaththāmah (may Allah be pleased with him) who was a skillful archer and runner. So, when the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) passed by him, he hunted a zebra and offered it to him, whereupon the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) refused to accept it. This hurt As-Sa‘b so much; as how would the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) refuse his gift? So, his face changed (due to grief). When the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) noticed that, he soothed his heart, and told him that he only refused it because he was in a state of "Ihrām", and a person in such a state cannot eat from any game that was hunted on his behalf.