The Book of Oaths and Vows

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The oath by which the Messenger of Allah used to swear was: 'No, by the Controller of the hearts.'"

It was narrated from Salim that his father said: "The oath by which the Messenger of Allah used to swear was: 'No, by the Controller of the hearts.'"

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "When Allah created Paradise and Hell, He sent Jibril, peace be upon him, to Paradise and said: 'Look at it and at what I have prepared for its people in it.' He looked at it, then he came back and said: 'By Your Glory, no one will hear of it but he will enter it.' So He commanded that it be surrounded by hardships and said: 'Go and look at it and at what I have prepared for its people in it.' He looked at it and saw that it had been surrounded with hardships. He (Jibril) said: 'By Your Glory, I fear that no one will enter it.' He (Allah) said: 'Go and look at the Fire and at what I have prepared for its people in it.' So he looked at it and parts of it were piled upon other parts. He came back and said: 'By Your Glory, no one will enter it.' So He commanded that it be surrounded with pleasures and said: 'Go and look at it.' So he looked at it and saw that it was surrounded with pleasures. He came back and said: 'By Your Glory, I fear that no one will be saved from it and all will enter it.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears, let him not swear by anything other than Allah.'" The Quraish used to swear by their forefathers, and so he said: "Do not swear by your forefathers."

Yahya bin Abi Ishaq said: "A man from Banu Ghifar told me, in the gathering of Salim bin 'Abdullah, Salim bin 'Abdullah said: 'I heard 'Abdullah -that is, Ibn 'Umar- say: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.'"'"

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that on one occasion the Prophet heard 'Umar saying: "By my father and by my mother." He said: "Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers." 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting it of others."

It was narrated from 'Umar that the Prophet said: "Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers." 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting of others."

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that he told him from 'Umar: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.'" 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting it of others."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Do not swear by your fathers, nor by your mothers nor by the idols. Swear only by Allah, and do not swear unless you are sincere.'"

It was narrated that Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, telling a lie, will be as he said.'" In his narration, Qutaibah said: "Intentionally." Yazid said: "Telling a lie will be as he said, and whoever kills himself with something. Allah will punish him with it in the Fire of Hell."

Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, telling a lie, will be as he said, and whoever kills himself with something will be punished with it in the Hereafter."

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Buraidah that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever says: I have nothing to do with Islam, if he is lying then he is as he said, and if he is telling the truth, his Islam will not be sound.'"

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Yasar, from Qutailah, a woman from Juhainah, that a Jew came to the Prophet and said: "You are setting up rivals (to Allah) and associating others (with Him). You say: 'Whatever Allah wills and you will,' and you say: 'By the Ka'bah.'" So the Prophet commanded them, if they wanted to swear an oath, to say: "By the Lord of the Ka'bah;" and to say: "Whatever Allah wills, then what you will."

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that the Prophet said: "Do not swear by your forefathers or by false gods (At-Tawaghit)."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever among you swears and says: By Al-Lat, let him say: La ilaha illallah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah). And whoever says to his companion: Come, let us gamble, then let him give in charity.'"

It was narrated from Mus'ab bin Sa'd that his father said: "We were talking about something, and I had only recently left Jahiliyyah behind, so I swore by Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said to me: 'What a bad thing you have said! Go to the Messenger of Allah and tell him, for we think that you have committed Kufr.' So I went to him and told him, and he said to me: 'Say: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner) three times, and seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan three times, and spit dryly to your left three times, and do not say that again.'"

Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrated that his father said: "I swore by Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza and my companions said to me: 'What a bad thing you have said! You have said something horrible.' So I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about that. He said: 'Say: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir (There is none worthy of worship except Allah with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things). Spit to your left three times, seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan, and do not say that again.'"

Al-Bara' bin 'Azib said: "The Messenger of Allah commanded us to do seven things: He commanded us to attend funerals, visit the sick, to reply (say: Yarhamuk Allah [may Allah have mercy on you]) to one who sneezes, to accept invitations, to support the oppressed, to fulfill oaths (when adjured by another) and to return greetings of Salaam."

It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophet said: "There is nothing on Earth that I swear an oath upon, and I see that something else is better, but I do that which is better."

It was narrated that Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari said: "I came to the Messenger of Allah with a group of the Ash'ari people and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: 'By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride and I have nothing to give you to ride.' We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be given three fine-looking camels. When we left, we said to one another: 'We came to the Messenger of Allah to ask him for animals to ride, and he swore by Allah that he would not give us anything to ride, then he gave us something.'" Abu Musa said: "We came to the Prophet and told him about that. He said: 'I did not give you animals to ride, rather Allah gave you them to ride. By Allah, I do not swear an oath and then see something better than it, but I offer expiation for my oath and do that which is better.'"

'Amr bin Shu'aib narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better."

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that the Messenger of Allah said: "If any one of you swears an oath, then he sees something better than it, let him offer expiation for his oath, and look at what is better and do it."

'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'If you swear an oath, offer expiation for your oath, then do that which is better.'"

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that the Prophet said: "If you swear an oath, then you see something better than it, then offer expiation for your oath, and do that which is better."

It was narrated that 'Adiyy bin Hatim said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better and offer expiation for his oath.'"

It was narrated that 'Adiyy bin Hatim said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him leave his oath, and do that which is better, and offer expiation for it.'"

It was narrated that 'Adiyy bin Hatim said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better and leave his oath.'"

It was narrated from Abu Al-Ahwas that his father said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I have a cousin, and I come to him and ask him (for help) but he does not give me anything, and he does not uphold the ties of kinship with me. Then, when he needs me, he comes to me and asks me (for help). I swore that I would not give him anything, nor uphold the ties of kinship with him.' He commanded me to do that which is better and to offer expiation for my oath."

It was narrated that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said: "The Prophet said to me: 'If you swear an oath, and you see something that is better, then do that which is better and offer expiation for your oath.'"

'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'If you swear an oath, then you see something that is better, then do that which is better and offer expiation for your oath.'"

'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah said: "The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'If you swear an oath, then you see something that is better, do that which is better, and offer expiation for your oath.'"

'Amr bin Shu'aib narrated from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow and no oath concerning that which one does not possess, nor to commit sin, nor to sever the ties of kinship."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Prophet said: "Whoever swears an oath and says: 'If Allah wills', then if he wishes he may go ahead, and if he wishes he may not, without having broken his oath."

It was narrated from 'Umar bin Al-Khattab that the Prophet said: "Actions are but by intentions, and each person will have but that which he intended. Thus, he whose emigration was for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, his emigration was for the sake of Allah and His Messenger, and he whose emigration was to achieve some worldly gain or to take some woman in marriage, his emigration was for that for which he emigrated."

'Ubaid bin 'Umair said: I heard 'Aishah say: "The Prophet used to stay with Zainab bint Jahsh and drink honey at her house. Hafsah and I agreed that if the Prophet came to either of us, she would say: 'I detect the smell of Maghafir (a nasty-smelling gum) on you. Have you eaten Maghafir?' He went to one of them and she said that to him. He said: 'No, rather I drank honey at the house of Zainab bint Jahsh, but I will never do it again.' Then the following was revealed: 'O Prophet! Why do you forbid (for yourself) that which Allah has allowed to you' up to: 'If you two turn in repentance to Allah' -'Aishah and Hafsah- 'And (remember) when the Prophet disclosed a matter in confidence to one of his wives.' refers to him saying: 'No, rather I drank honey.'"

It was narrated that Jabir said: "I entered the house of the Prophet with him and there was some bread and vinegar. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Eat; what a good condiment is vinegar.'"

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "At the time of the Messenger of Allah we used to be called Samasir (brokers). The Messenger of Allah came to us when we were selling and called us by a name that was better than that. He said: 'O merchants (Tujjar), this selling involves lies and (false) oaths, so mix some charity with it.'"

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "We used to sell in Al-Baqi, and the Messenger of Allah came to us. We used to be called Samasir (brokers) but he said: 'O merchants!' And called us by a name that was better than our name. Then he said: 'This selling involves (false) oaths and lies, so mix some charity with it.'"

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "The Prophet came to us when we were in the marketplace and said: 'This marketplace is filled with idle talk and (false) oaths, so mix some charity with it.'"

It was narrated that Qais bin Abi Gharazah said: "In Al-Madinah we used to buy and sell Wasqs (of goods), and we used to call ourselves Samasir (brokers), and the people used to call us like that. The Messenger of Allah came out to us one day, and called us by a name that was better than that which we called ourselves and which the people called us. He said: 'O Tujjar (traders), your selling involves (false) oaths and lies, so mix some charity with it.'"

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah forbade vows and said: "They do not bring any good; they are just a means of taking wealth from the miserly."

It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah forbade vows and said: 'They do not change anything; they are just a means of taking wealth from the miserly.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'A vow does not bring anything forward or put it back; it is just a means of taking wealth from the miserly.'"

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: "A vow does not bring anything to the son of Adam that has not been decreed for him. It is just a means of taking wealth from the miserly."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet said: "Do not make vows, for a vow does not have any impact on the Qadar. Rather it is just a means of taking wealth from the miserly."

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.'"

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.'"

'Imran bin Husain said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'The best of you are my generation, then those who come after them, then those whom after them, then those who come after them.' -I do not know if he said two times after him or three. Then he mentioned some people who betray and cannot be trusted, who bear witness without being asked to do so, who make vows and do not fulfill them, and fatness will prevail among them."

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah passed by a man who was leading another man by a rope. The Prophet took it, and cut it, and he said: 'It is a vow.'"

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas: "The Prophet passed by a man who was circumambulating the Ka'bah, led by another man with a reign in his nose. The Prophet took him by the hand and commanded him to lead him by his hand." Ibn Juraij said: "Sulaiman told me that Tawus told him, from Ibn 'Abbas, that the Prophet passed by him when he was circumambulating the Ka'bah, and a man had tied his hand to another man with some string or thread or whatever. The Prophet cut it with his hand then said: 'Lead him with your hand.'"

It was narrated from 'Imran bin Husain that the Prophet said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and no vow concerning that which the son of Adam does not possess."

It was narrated from Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak, that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, telling a lie, will be as he said, and whoever kills himself with something, he will be punished with it in the Hereafter, and there is no vow concerning that which a man does not possess."

It was narrated that 'Uqbah bin 'Amir said: "My sister vowed to walk to the House of Allah, and she told me to ask the Messenger of Allah about that. So I asked the Prophet for her and he said: 'Let her walk, and let her ride.'"

'Uqbah bin 'Amir narrated that he asked the Prophet about a sister of his who had vowed to walk, barefoot and bareheaded. The Prophet said to him: "Tell her to cover her head and ride, and fast for three days."

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "A woman traveled by sea and vowed to fast for a month, but she died before she could fast. Her sister came to the Prophet and told him about that, and he told her to fast on her behalf."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Abbas that Sa'd bin 'Ubadah asked the Messenger of Allah about a vow which his mother had sworn, but she died before she could fulfill it. He said: "Fulfill it on her behalf."

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "Sa'd bin 'Ubadah asked the Messenger of Allah about a vow which his mother had sworn, but she died before she could fulfill it. The Messenger of Allah said: 'Fulfill it on her behalf.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbas said: "Sa'd bin 'Ubadah came to the Prophet and said: 'My mother died and she had sworn a vow, but she did not fulfill it.' He said: 'Fulfill it on her behalf.'"

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar, that 'Umar had vowed to spend a night in 'Itikaf during the Jahiliyyah. He asked the Messenger of Allah about that, and he ordered him to perform the 'Itikaf.

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "Umar had made a vow to spend a night in 'Itikaf in Al-Masjid Al-Haram. He asked the Messenger of Allah about that, and he ordered him to perform the 'Itikaf."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that 'Umar had vowed -during the Jahiliyyah- to spend a day in 'Itikaf. He asked the Messenger of Allah about that, and he commanded him to perform the 'Itikaf.

'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated from his father, that he said to the Messenger of Allah -when his repentance was accepted: "O Messenger of Allah! I want to give all my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger." The Messenger of Allah said to him: "Keep some of your wealth for yourself; that is better for you."

'Abdur-Rahman bin Ka'b bin Malik narrated that 'Abdullah bin Ka'b said: "I heard Ka'b bin Malik narrating his Hadith about when he stayed behind and did not join the Messenger of Allah on the campaign to Tabuk. He said: 'When I sat down before him I said: "O Messenger of Allah, as part of my repentance I want to give my wealth in charity to Allah and His Messenger." The Messenger of Allah said: "Keep some of your wealth for yourself; that is better for you." I said: "I will keep my share that is in Khaibar."'"

'Abdullah bin Ka'b bin Malik said: "I heard Ka'b bin Malik narrating his Hadith about when he stayed behind and did not join the Messenger of Allah on the campaign to Tabuk. (he said) I said: 'As part of my repentance I want to give my wealth in charity for Allah and His Messenger.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Keep some of your wealth for yourself; that is better for you.' I said: 'I will keep for myself my share that is in Khaibar.'"

It was narrated from 'Ubaydullah bin Ka'b: "I heard my father Ka'b bin Malik narrate: 'I said: O Messenger of Allah, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, has saved me by my being truthful, and as part of my repentance I want to give my wealth in charity to Allah and His Messenger. He said: Keep some of your wealth for yourself; that is better for you. I said: I will keep my share that is in Khaibar.'"

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah in the year of Khaibar, and we did not get any spoils of war except for wealth, goods and clothes. Then a man from Banu Ad-Dubaib, who was called Rifa'ah bin Zaid, gave the Messenger of Allah a black slave who was called Mid'am. The Messenger of Allah set out for Wadi Al-Qura. When we were in Wadi Al-Qura, while Mid'am was unloading the luggage of the Messenger of Allah, an arrow came and killed him. The people said: 'Congratulations! You will go to Paradise,' but the Messenger of Allah said: 'No, by the One in Whose hand is my soul! The cloak that he took from the spoils of war on the Day of Khaibar is burning him with fire.' When the people heard that, a man brought one or two shoelaces to the Messenger of Allah and the Messenger of Allah said: 'One or two shoelaces of fire.'"

'Abdullah bin 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath and says: If Allah wills, then he has made an exception.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath and says: If Allah wills, then he has made an exception.'"

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever swears an oath and says, 'If Allah wills,' then he has the choice: If he wishes, he may go ahead, and if he wishes he may not."

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: "Sulaiman bin Dawud said: 'Tonight I will go around ninety women, each of whom will bear a horseman who will perform Jihad in the cause of Allah.' His companion said to him: 'If Allah wills.' But he did not say: 'If Allah wills.' Then he went around to them all, but none of them got pregnant except a woman who bore half a man. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If he had said, 'If Allah wills,' they would all have performed Jihad in the cause of Allah as horsemen."

It was narrated from 'Uqbah bin 'Amir that the Messenger of Allah said: "The expiation for vows is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience.'"

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.'"

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.'"

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.'"

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.'"

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no vow at a moment of anger and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.'"

It was narrated that 'Imran said: The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow at a moment of anger and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated that 'Imran said: The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow at a moment of anger and its expiation is the expiation for an oath." It was said: "Az-Zubair did not hear this Hadith from 'Imran bin Husain."

It was narrated from Muhammad bin Az-Zubair, from his father, from a man from the inhabitants of Al-Basrah, who said: "I accompanied 'Imran bin Husain, who said: 'I heard the Messenger of Allah say: Vows are of two types: A vow that is made to do an act of obedience to Allah; that is for Allah and must be fulfilled, and a vow that is made to do an act of disobedience to Allah; that is for Shaitan and should not be fulfilled, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.'"

It was narrated that Muhammad bin Az-Zubayr Hanzali said: My father told me that a man told him, that he asked 'Imran bin Husain about a man who made a vow not to attend the prayers in the mosque of his people. 'Imran said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: There is no vow at a moment of anger and its expiation is the expiation for an oath.

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain said: The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience or at the time of anger, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain said: The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience and its expiation is the expiation for an oath." Mansur bin Zadhan contradicted him in his wording.

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain said: The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow for the son of Adam with regard to that which he does not possess, or to do an act of disobedience to Allah, the Mighty and Sublime." 'Ali bin Zaid contradicted him -for he reported it from Al-Hasan from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah.

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that the Prophet said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience or with regard to that which the son of Adam does not possess."

It was narrated that 'Imran bin Husain said: The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience or with regard to that which the son of Adam does not possess."

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Prophet saw a man being supported by two others and said: 'What is this?' They said: 'He vowed to walk to the House of Allah.' He said: 'Allah has no need for this man to torture himself. Tell him to ride.'"

It was narrated that Anas said: "The Messenger of Allah passed by an old man who was being supported between two men and said: 'What is the matter with him?' They said: 'He vowed to walk.' He said: 'Allah has no need for him to torture himself. Tell him to ride.'" So he was told to ride.

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "The Messenger of Allah came to a man who was being supported by two others and said: 'What is the matter with him?' It was said: 'He vowed to walk to the Ka'bah.' He said: 'Allah does not benefit from his torturing himself.' And he told him to ride."

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath and says: "If Allah wills, then he has made an exception."'"

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah, who attributed it to the Prophet: "Sulaiman said: 'I will certainly go around to ninety women tonight, each of whom will bear a child who will fight in the cause of Allah.' It was said to him: 'Say: If Allah wills' but he did not say it. He went around to them but none of them bore a child except for one woman who bore half a person." The Messenger of Allah said: "If he had said: 'If Allah wills,' he would not have broken his vow, and this would have been a means to help him to get what he wanted."