15. Oaths and Vows

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا أَكْثَرُ مَا كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يحلف: «لَا ومقلب الْقُلُوب» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Ibn ‘Umar said the greatest oath the Prophet used was, “No, by Him who overturns the hearts.” Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ مَنْ كَانَ حَالِفًا فَلْيَحْلِفْ بِاللَّهِ أَوْ ليصمت»

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God forbids you to swear by your fathers. If anyone swears he must swear by God, or keep silent.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَحْلِفُوا بِالطَّوَاغِي وَلَا بِآبَائِكُمْ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Samura reported God's Messenger as saying, “Do not swear by idols or by your fathers.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " مَنْ حَلَفَ فَقَالَ فِي حَلِفِهِ: بِاللَّاتِ وَالْعُزَّى فَلْيَقُلْ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ. وَمَنْ قَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ: تَعَالَ أقامرك فليتصدق "

Abu Huraira reported the Prophet as saying that if anyone swears an oath in the course of which he says, “By al-Lat and al-‘Uzza”, he should say, “There is no god but God”; and that if anyone says to his friend, “Come and let me play for money with you”, he should pay sadaqa. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ الضَّحَّاكِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى مِلَّةٍ غَيْرِ الْإِسْلَامِ كَاذِبًا فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ وَلَيْسَ عَلَى ابْنِ آدَمَ فِيمَا لَا يَمْلِكُ وَمَنْ قَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ بِشَيْءٍ فِي الدُّنْيَا عُذِّبَ بِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَمَنْ لَعَنَ مُؤْمِنًا فَهُوَ كَقَتْلِهِ وَمَنْ قَذَفَ مُؤْمِنًا بِكُفْرٍ فَهُوَ كَقَتْلِهِ وَمَنِ ادَّعَى دَعْوَى كَاذِبَةً لِيَتَكَثَّرَ بِهَا لَمْ يَزِدْهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا قِلَّةً»

Thabit b. ad-Dahhak reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone swears by a religion other than Islam falsely he is like what he has said.* A son of Adam may not take a vow about something which he does not possess, and if anyone kills himself with something in this world he will be punished with it on the day of resurrection. If anyone curses a believer it is like murdering him, if anyone charges a believer with infidelity it is like murdering him, and if anyone makes a false claim to gain much thereby God will give him less instead of more.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) *Opinions differ about the meaning. Some say it means he is a liar, others that he is an infidel.

وَعَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ»

Abu Musa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I swear by God that if God will, I shall not swear an oath and then consider something else to be better than it without making atonement for my oath and doing the thing that is better.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَا عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ سَمُرَةَ لَا تَسْأَلِ الْإِمَارَةَ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا وَإِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ وَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خير وَكفر عَن يَمِينك»

A version has, "Do the thing that is better and make atonement for your oath.’* Bukhari, al-Aiman wan-nudhur, I and Muslim, Aiman, 19 give the first form in full. I have not found the other version.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وليفعل» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "If anyone swears an oath and considers something else to be better than it he should make atonement for his oath and do that.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَاللَّهِ لَأَنْ يَلَجَّ أَحَدُكُمْ بِيَمِينِهِ فِي أَهْلِهِ آثَمُ لَهُ عِنْدَ الله نم أَنْ يُعْطِيَ كَفَّارَتَهُ الَّتِي افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ»

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "I swear by God that it is more sinful in God’s sight for one of you to persist in his oath regarding his family than to give for it the atonement God has imposed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «يَمِينُكَ عَلَى مَا يُصَدِّقُكَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحبك» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Your oath should be about something regarding which your companion will believe you.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْيَمِينُ عَلَى نِيَّةِ الْمُسْتَحْلِفِ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

He reported God's Messenger as saying, "An oath is to be interpreted according to the intention of the one who takes it.” Muslim transmitted it.

عَن عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ: (لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ) فِي قَوْلِ الرَّجُلِ: لَا وَاللَّهِ وَبَلَى وَاللَّهِ. رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ وَفِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ لَفْظُ الْمَصَابِيحِ وَقَالَ: رَفَعَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنهُ

‘A’isha said that the verse, "God will not take you to account for what is futile in your oaths” (Al-Qu’ran 2:225; 5:89) was sent down about such phrases as "No, by God,” and "Yes, by God.” Bukhari transmitted it. Sharh as-sunna has the wording of al-Masabih, saying that some transmitters traced it back to the Prophet on ‘A’isha’s authority.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ وَلَا بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ وَلَا بِالْأَنْدَادِ وَلَا تَحْلِفُوا بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ صَادِقُونَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Do not swear by your fathers, or by your mothers, or by rivals (Cf. Al-Qur’an 2:22 etc. The reference is to idols or false gods) to God; and swear by God only when you are speaking the truth.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ حَلَفَ بِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ فَقَدْ أَشْرَكَ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

Ibn Umar told that he heard God’s Messenger say, “He who swears by anyone but God is a polytheist.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

وَعَنْ بُرَيْدَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَنْ حَلَفَ بِالْأَمَانَةِ فَلَيْسَ منا» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Buraida reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who swears by faithfulness* is not one of our number.” Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Amana. It is held that the objection is due to the fact that the word is not the name of one of God's attributes, but merely one of the duties prescribed to mankind. It is an unsuitable word because its use suggests that it is being equated with one of God’s attributes.

وَعَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " مَنْ قَالَ: إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ فَإِنْ كَانَ كَاذِبًا فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا فَلَنْ يَرْجِعَ إِلَى الْإِسْلَامِ سَالِمًا ". رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ

He reported God’s Messenger as stating that if anyone says, “I am free from Islam,” that is just as he has said if he is lying, but if he is speaking the truth he will not return safely to Islam. Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اجْتَهَدَ فِي الْيَمِينِ قَالَ: «لَا وَالَّذِي نفس أَبُو الْقَاسِم بِيَدِهِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri told that when God’s Messenger swore strongly he said, “No, by Him in whose hand is the soul of Abu Qasim.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي هُرَيْرَة قَالَ: كَانَتْ يَمِينُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا حَلَفَ: «لَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُد وَابْن مَاجَه

Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger swore an oath it was, “No, and I ask forgiveness of God.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى الله ليه وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَقَالَ: إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَلَا حِنْثَ عَلَيْهِ ". رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُدَ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَالدَّارِمِيُّ وَذَكَرَ التِّرْمِذِيُّ جَمَاعَةً وَقَفُوهُ عَلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as stating that if anyone says when swearing an oath, “If God will”, he is not held accountable if he breaks it. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, but Tirmidhi mentioned a number who traced it no farther back than Ibn ‘Umar.

عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ ابْنَ عَم لي آتيه فَلَا يُعْطِينِي وَلَا يَصِلُنِي ثُمَّ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيَّ فَيَأْتِينِي فَيَسْأَلُنِي وَقَدْ حَلَفْتُ أَنْ لَا أُعْطِيَهُ وَلَا أَصِلَهُ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ آتِيَ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَأُكَفِّرَ عَنْ يَمِينِي. رَوَاهُ النَّسَائِيُّ وَابْنُ مَاجَهْ وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَأْتِينِي ابْنُ عَمِّي فَأَحْلِفُ أَنْ لَا أُعْطِيَهُ وَلَا أَصِلَهُ قَالَ: «كَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ»

I said, “Messenger of God, tell me what I should do about a cousin of mine to whom I go and ask for something, but who neither gives me anything nor regards my kinship, then when he needs my help comes to me and asks for something, and I have sworn that I would not give him anything or regard his kinship.” He commanded me to do that which is better and make atonement for my oath. In Ibn Majah’s version he told that he said, “Messenger of God, my cousin comes to me and I swear that I will not give him anything or regard his kinship,” and that he replied, “Make atonement for your oath.” Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.