Oaths and Vows - Bulugh al-Maram 1377

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When you swear an oath and then consider something else to be better than it, make atonement for your oath and do the thing that is better." [Agreed upon]. A wording of al-Bukhari has: "Do the thing that is better and make atonement for your oath." In a narration by Abu Dawud: "Make atonement for your oath, then do the thing that is better." [The chains of narrators of both Ahadith are Sahih (authentic)].

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith from Bulugh al-Maram establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence regarding oaths. The Prophet (ﷺ) teaches that when one takes an oath to do or avoid something, but later realizes that breaking that oath would be more beneficial and righteous, one should break the oath and perform the better action while making expiation.

The different wordings from various authentic narrations indicate flexibility in the sequence - whether one performs the better action first or makes expiation first. Scholars explain that the essence is fulfilling both obligations: performing the superior action and making atonement for the broken oath.

The expiation (kaffārah) for breaking an oath is detailed in the Quran (5:89): feeding ten needy persons, clothing them, freeing a slave, or if unable, fasting three days. This ruling demonstrates Islam's practical wisdom, prioritizing benefit and righteousness over rigid adherence to oaths when circumstances change.