Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) overtook 'Umar bin al-Khattab when he was with a party of riders of about ten and 'Umar was swearing by his father. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) called them and said, "Verily! Allah forbids you from swearing by your fathers. Therefore, if anyone swears, he must swear by Allah or keep silent." [Agreed upon]
Commentary on the Prohibition of Swearing by Fathers
This noble hadith from Bulugh al-Maram 1374 establishes a fundamental principle regarding oaths and vows in Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) encountered 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and his companions while 'Umar was swearing by his father - a common practice in pre-Islamic ignorance (Jahiliyyah).
The Divine Prohibition
Allah's Messenger explicitly stated that Allah forbids swearing by anyone other than Allah Himself. This prohibition stems from the Islamic principle of Tawhid (monotheism), where all acts of worship and reverence must be directed solely to Allah.
Swearing by created beings implies attributing to them a status that belongs only to the Creator. It constitutes a form of shirk (associating partners with Allah) in speech and reverence.
The Permissible Alternatives
The Prophet provided two alternatives: either swear by Allah alone or maintain silence. This demonstrates the seriousness of oaths in Islam and encourages Muslims to be mindful of their speech.
Permissible forms of oaths include swearing by Allah's names and attributes, such as "Wallahi" (By Allah), "Wa'izzati-Llah" (By Allah's Majesty), or other divine attributes.
Scholarly Consensus
This hadith is recorded in both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, indicating its highest level of authenticity. The consensus of scholars from all madhahib (schools of jurisprudence) prohibits swearing by anything other than Allah.
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, in his commentary on Bulugh al-Maram, emphasizes that this prohibition extends to swearing by the Prophet, angels, parents, leaders, or any created being.
Practical Implications
Muslims must train themselves to avoid casual oaths and particularly refrain from swearing by anything other than Allah. This purification of speech aligns the believer's tongue with proper Islamic creed.
If one accidentally swears by other than Allah, they should immediately seek forgiveness and rectify their statement by saying "Insha'Allah" or similar phrases that acknowledge Allah's ultimate will.