Hadith Text & Context

The Prophet (ﷺ) said to me: 'Abd al-Rahman b. Samurah, when you swear an oath and consider something else to be better than it, do the thing that is better and make atonement for your oath.

This narration from Sunan Abi Dawud 3277 addresses the important Islamic legal principle regarding oaths and their expiation when a better alternative emerges.

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith establishes that if a Muslim takes an oath to do something, but later realizes that breaking that oath and doing something else would be more beneficial or righteous, they should break the oath, perform the better action, and then expiate for breaking the oath.

The wisdom behind this ruling is that Islam prioritizes benefit and righteousness over rigid adherence to oaths when circumstances change. The expiation serves as purification for breaking the oath while allowing the Muslim to choose the better path.

Legal Rulings & Conditions

The "better alternative" must be objectively superior in terms of religious benefit, such as greater piety, stronger family ties, or more significant public benefit.

The oath must be one that is permissible to break according to Islamic law - it cannot involve sin or disobedience to Allah.

The expiation (kaffarah) for breaking an oath is detailed in Quran 5:89: feeding ten needy persons, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If unable, fasting three days.

Jurisprudential Notes

As noted by Abu Dawud, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal permitted making atonement before breaking the oath, considering it a valid precautionary measure.

This position reflects the Hanbali school's approach to facilitating religious practice and removing hardship from believers.

Other schools generally require expiation after breaking the oath, though some scholars permitted advance expiation in cases of necessity.