"Oaths in Islam: Truthfulness, False Oaths, and Their Consequences"
الَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِن بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
Those who break the covenant of Allah after contracting it and sever that which Allah has ordered to be joined and cause corruption on earth, it is those who are the losers.
Surat Al-Baqarah 2:27
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهۡدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقۡطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦۤ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفۡسِدُونَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۙ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّعۡنَةُ وَلَهُمۡ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ
“And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation and cut asunder that which Allah has ordered to be joined and make mischief in the land; (as for) those, upon them shall be curse and they shall have the evil (issue) of the abode.”
(Surah Ra’d 13:25)
بَلَىٰ مَنۡ أَوۡفَىٰ بِعَهۡدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ
Yes, whoever fulfills his pledge and fears Allah much; verily, then Allah loves the Muttaqin (the pious).
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَشۡتَرُونَ بِعَهۡدِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَيۡمَـٰنِہِمۡ ثَمَنً۬ا قَلِيلاً أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَا خَلَـٰقَ لَهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ وَلَا يُڪَلِّمُهُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَلَا يَنظُرُ إِلَيۡہِمۡ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ وَلَا يُزَڪِّيهِمۡ وَلَهُمۡ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ۬
Verily, those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter (Paradise). Neither will Allah speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection, nor will He purify them, and they shall have a painful torment.)
(Surah Ali-‘Imrān 3 : 76-77)
إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ • ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتَّ مِنۡہُمۡ ثُمَّ يَنقُضُونَ عَهۡدَهُمۡ فِى ڪُلِّ مَرَّةٍ۬ وَهُمۡ لَا يَتَّقُونَ
55.Verily, the worst of living creatures before Allah are those who disbelieve, -- so they shall not believe.) (56. They are those with whom you made a covenant, but they break their covenant every time and they do not have Taqwa.)
(Surah al-Anfāl 8:55-56)
ۚ وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا
“And fulfill the promise, surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.”
(Surah al- ‘Isrā’, 17:34)
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ
“O you who believe! Fulfill the obligations.”
(Surah al-Mā’ida 5:1)
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لِمَ تَقُولُونَ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ
كَبُرَ مَقْتاً عِندَ اللَّهِ أَن تَقُولُواْ مَا لاَ تَفْعَلُونَ
“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? It is most hateful to Allah that you should say that which you do not do.”
(Surah as-Saff 61 :2-3)
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ
Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat and to their covenants are Ra`un.
(Surah 23. Al-Muminun, Ayaah No: 8)
Narrated/Authority of Abu Huraira
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ
«ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ، وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ، وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: رَجُلٌ عَلَى فَضْلِ مَاءٍ بِالطَّرِيقِ يَمْنَعُهُ مِنَ ابْنِ السَّبِيلِ، وَرَجُلٌ بَايَعَ إِمَامًا لَا يُبَايِعُهُ إِلَّا لِدُنْيَا، فَإِنْ أَعْطَاهُ مِنْهَا وَفَى لَهُ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطِهِ مِنْهَا لَمْ يَفِ لَهُ، وَرَجُلٌ بَايَعَ رَجُلًا بِسِلْعَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ، فَحَلَفَ لَهُ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيَ بِهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَصَدَّقَهُ فَأَخَذَهَا
Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "There are three persons whom Allah will neither talk to nor look at, nor purify from (the sins), and they will have a painful punishment. (They are): (1) A man possessed superfluous water on a way and he withheld it from the travelers. (2) a man who gives a Baia (pledge of allegiance) to a Muslim ruler and gives it only for worldly gains. If the ruler gives him what he wants, he remains obedient to it, otherwise he does not abide by it, and (3) a man bargains with another man after the Asr prayer and the latter takes a false oath in the Name of Allah claiming that he has been offered so much for the thing and the former (believes him and) buys it."
📖 Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 7212
Narrated/Authority of Ibn Masud
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ
مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ يَقْتَطِعُ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever takes a (false) oath in order to grab (others) property, then Allah will be angry with him when he will meet Him."
📖 Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6675
Narrated/Authority of Ibn Abu Aufa
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى رضي الله عنه
أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَقَامَ سِلْعَةً فِي السُّوقِ، فَحَلَفَ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيَ بِهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا، وَلَمْ يُعْطَ بِهَا، فَنَزَلَتْ
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا أُولَٰئِكَ لَا خَلَاقَ لَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ وَلَا يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلَا يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
[آل عمران: 77]
وَقَالَ ابْنُ أَبِي أَوْفَى: كَاذِبُ الْيَمِينِ غَادِرٌ، وَآكِلُ الرِّبَا غَادِرٌ
A man displayed some goods in the market and took a false oath that he had been offered so much for them though he was not offered that amount Then the following Divine Verse was revealed: "Verily! Those who purchase a little gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths . . . Will get painful punishment." (3.77) Ibn Abu Aufa added, "Such person as described above is a treacherous Riba-eater (i.e. eater of usury).
📖 Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No: 857
Narrated/Authority of Abdullah
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ
«مَنْ كَانَ حَالِفًا فَلْيَحْلِفْ بِاللَّهِ أَوْ لِيَصْمُتْ»
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever has to take an oath should swear by Allah or remain silent." (i.e. He should not swear by other than Allah.)
📖 Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 2679
Narrated/Authority of Abu Huraira
آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلَاثٌ: إِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَان»
(There are three signs for a hypocrite: when he promises, he breaks his promise; when speaks, he lies; and when he is entrusted, he betrays.)
📖 Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 33
And in another Hadith in the Sahih,
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
«أَرْبَعٌ مَنْ كُنَّ فِيهِ كَانَ مُنَافِقًا خَالِصًا، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ كَانَتْ فِيهِ خَصْلَةٌ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ حَتَّى يَدَعَهَا: إِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ، وَإِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا عَاهَدَ غَدَرَ، وَإِذَا خَاصَمَ فَجَرَ
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There are four characteristics, whoever has all four is a pure hypocrite; and whoever has one of them has one characteristic of hypocrisy until he gives it up: when he is entrusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he acts treacherously; and when he quarrels, he behaves wickedly.”
📚 Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 34
Narrated Imran ibn Husayn:
عَنْ عِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ كَاذِبَةٍ مُقْتَطِعًا بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ، فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: If anyone swears a false oath in confinement, he should make his seat in Hell on account of his (act).
📖 : Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 3242
Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:
عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رضي الله عنهما، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
لَا يَحْلِفْ أَحَدٌ عِنْدَ مِنْبَرِي هَذَا عَلَى يَمِينٍ آثِمَةٍ، وَلَوْ عَلَى سِوَاكٍ أَخْضَرَ، إِلَّا تَبَوَّأَ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ، أَوْ وَجَبَتْ لَهُ النَّارُ
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: One should not take a false oath at this pulpit of mine even on a green tooth-stick; otherwise he will make his abode in Hell, or Hell will be certain for him.
📖 Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith No. 3244
Narrated AbuHurayrah:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
لَا تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ، وَلَا بِأُمَّهَاتِكُمْ، وَلَا بِالْأَنْدَادِ، وَلَا تَحْلِفُوا إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ، وَلَا تَحْلِفُوا بِاللَّهِ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ صَادِقُونَ
The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: Do not swear by your fathers, or by your mothers, or by rivals to Allah; and swear by Allah only, and swear by Allah only when you are speaking the truth.
"Breaking an oath"
عَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ رضي الله عنه، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ
«كَفَّارَةُ النَّذْرِ كَفَّارَةُ الْيَمِينِ»
📖 المرجع: صحيح مسلم، كتاب النذر، حديث رقم 1645
“The expiation of (the breach of) a vow is the same as the expiation of (the breach of) an oath.”
📖 Sahih Muslim, Book of Vows (Kitab an-Nadhr), Hadith No. 1645
Allah the Almighty commands about the expiation of oaths in the Quran as follows:
لاَ يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَـكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
“God does not take you to task for the oaths you utter unintentionally, but He will certainly take you to task for the oaths you have sworn in serious intention. The expiation (for breaking such oaths) is the feeding of ten desperate persons with the average of what you feed to your own families, or to clothe them, or to set one subjugated person free from bondage. Who does not find the means, shall fast for three days. This is the expiation for your oaths whenever you have broken them. But do keep your oaths. Allah makes clear to you His commandments, so that you may fulfill your duties.”
(Al-Maidah/The Feast 5:89)
To feed ten person means to give them all meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also feed one needy person for ten days.
Feeding or clothing should be the average of your daily expenses according to your social and economic situation. You can also cover the expenses of their meals & clothes rather than feeding and clothing them.
The Almighty Allah commands in another verse:
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا اللَّهَ عُرْضَةً لِّأَيْمَانِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوا وَتَتَّقُوا وَتُصْلِحُوا بَيْنَ النَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ (224)
“Do not use (the name of) God in an oath as an obstacle towards piety, mindfulness and reconciliation of people. God is all-listening, all-knowing.”
(Al-Baqarah / The Cattle 2:224)
Your oath must not be an obstacle to doing good deeds. If you took an oath of this kind, you must break it immediately and expiate for it.
And Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) Knows Best.
