Oaths and Vows (Kitab Al-Aiman Wa Al-Nudhur) - Sunan Abi Dawud 3289

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If anyone vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, but if anyone vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him."

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith establishes a fundamental principle regarding vows (nudhur) in Islamic jurisprudence. The Prophet (ﷺ) distinguishes between two types of vows: those involving obedience to Allah and those involving disobedience.

When a Muslim makes a vow to perform an act of obedience - such as fasting, praying, or giving charity - this vow becomes obligatory upon them. They must fulfill it, as failing to do so would require expiation (kaffarah) for breaking a pledge made to Allah.

However, if someone mistakenly vows to commit a sin or act of disobedience against Allah, they are prohibited from fulfilling such a vow. No one has the right to vow to disobey the One who created them. The scholars state that such a vow is invalid from its inception and requires no expiation.

Legal Rulings Derived

1. Vows of obedience are binding and must be fulfilled exactly as pledged

2. Vows involving sinful acts are null and void - one must not carry them out

3. This hadith demonstrates Islam's wisdom in preventing self-harm through misguided religious zeal

4. The principle applies to all forms of disobedience, whether major or minor sins

Scholarly Consensus

The four schools of Islamic law unanimously agree on this ruling. Imam Ahmad, Ash-Shafi'i, Malik, and Abu Hanifah all cited this hadith as evidence that vows to disobey Allah are not binding. This reflects Islam's balanced approach to worship, where intention and compliance with divine law take precedence over mere ritual observance.