The Chapters on Expiation

كتاب الكفارات

Chapter 2: Prohibition of making an oath by other than Allah

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes an oath, and swears, saying: 'By Al-Lat and Al-Uzza,' let him say:'La ilaha illallah.' "

Chapter 7: One who swears an oath and then sees that something else is better

It was narrated from Abul-Ahwas 'Awf bin Malik Al- Jushami that his father said

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, my cousin comes to me and I swear that I will not give him anything or uphold the ties of kinship with him.' He said: 'Offer expiation for what you swore about.'"

Chapter 11: Prohibition of a man insisting on what he swore about, and not offering expiation

It was narrated that Hammam heard Abu Hurairah saying that 'Abul-Qasim (ﷺ) said

"If anyone of you insists on fulfilling what he swore to (after learning that it is wrong) then it is more sinful before Allah than (breaking the oath for which) the expiation that has been enjoined upon him."

Chapter 15: The prohibition of vows

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Vows do not bring the son of Adam anything unless it has been decreed for him. But he is dominated by Divine preordainment, and will get what is decreed for him. And (vows) are a means of making the miser give something, so what he desires becomes obtainable for him, which was not obtainable before his vow. And Allah says: 'Spend, I will spend on you.'

Chapter 18: Fulfilling vows

It was narrated from Maimunah bint Kardam Al-Yasariyyah that

her father met the Prophet (ﷺ) when she was riding behind him. He said: "I vowed to offer a sacrifice at Buwanah." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Is there any idol there?" He said: "No." He said: " Fulfill your vow." (Hasan)Another chain with similar wording.

Chapter 20: One who vows to go for Hajj walking

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Ar-Ru'aini that 'Abdullah bin Malik told him, that

'Uqbah bin 'Amir told him, that his sister vowed to walk, barefoot and bareheaded, and he mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) He said: "Order her to ride and to cover her head, and to fast for three days."

Chapter 0

Chapter 1: The swearing of the Messenger of Allah (saws) by which he would take an oath

It was narrated that Rifa'ah Al - Juhani said

"When the Prophet (ﷺ) took an oath he would say: 'By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad."'

It was narrated from Salim that his father said

"The swearing most frequently sworn by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was: 'No, by the Controller of the hearts."'

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The swearing of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was: 'No, and I ask Allah for forgiveness."'

Chapter 2: Prohibition of making an oath by other than Allah

It was narrated from Salim bin 'Abdullah bin 'Umar, from his father, from 'Umar, that

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard him swearing by his father. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allah forbids you from making oaths by your forefathers." 'Umar said: I never took an oath by them (i.e., my forefathers) myself nor narrating such words from anyone else.”

Chapter 4: The person for whom an oath is sworn by Allah should accept what is said

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"Eisa bin Maryam saw a man stealing and said: 'Did you steal?' He said: 'No, by the One besides Whom there is no other God.' 'Eisa said: 'I believe in Allah, and I do not believe what my eyes see.'"

Chapter 6: Uttering the exception when swearing

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Whoever swears an oath and says In sha' Allah, if he wishes he may go ahead and if he wishes he may not, without having broken his oath."

Chapter 7: One who swears an oath and then sees that something else is better

It was narrated from Abu Burdah that his father Abu Musa said

"I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a group of Asharites and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: 'By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to give you to ride.' We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be given three she-camels with fine humps. When we left, we said to one another: 'We came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to ask him for animals to ride, and he swore by Allah that he would not give us anything to ride, then he gave us something. Let us go back.' So we went to him and we said: 'O Messenger of Allah! We came to you seeking mounts, and you took an oath that you would not give us mounts, then you gave us some mounts.' He said: 'By Allah, I did not give you animals to ride, rather Allah gave you them to ride. I, by Allah, if Allah wills, do not swear and then see something better than it, but I offer expiation for what I swore about, and do that which is better.' Or he said: 'I do that which is better and offer expiation for what I swore about.'"

Chapter 8: Those who say that the expiation is to not fulfill it

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Whoever takes an oath to cut off the ties of kinship, or to do something that is not right, the fulfillment of his vow is not to do that."

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, that his grandfather said that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"Whoever swears an oath then sees that something else is better than it, let him not do it, and his leaving it is the expiation for it. "

Chapter 12: Helping others fulfill their oaths

It was narrated from Mujahid, that 'Abdur-Rahman bin Safwan, or Safwan bin 'Abdur- Rahman Al-Qurashi said

"On the Day of the conquest of Makkah, he came with his father and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, give my father a share of Hijrah.' He said: 'There is no Hijrah.' Then he went away and entered upon 'Abbas and said: 'Do you know who I am?' He said: 'Yes.' Then 'Abbas went out, wearing a shirt and no upper wrap, and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, do you know so-and-so with whom we have friendly ties? He brought his father to swear an oath of allegiance (i.e., promise) to emigrate.' The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'There is no Hijrah.'" 'Abbas said: 'I adjure you to do it.' The Prophet (ﷺ) stretched forth his hand and touched his hand, and said: 'I have fulfilled the oath of my uncle, but there is no Hijrah."' (Da'if)Another chain with similar wording. Yazid bin Abu Ziyad said: "Meaning: There is no Hijrah from a land whose people have accepted Islam."

Chapter 13: Prohibition on saying: “What Allah wills and you will”

It was narrated from Hudhaifah bin Yaman that

a Muslim man saw in a dream that he met a man from among the People of the Book, who said: "What good people you would be if only you were not committing Shirk. For you say: 'What Allah wills and Muhammad wills."' He mentioned that to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: "By Allah, I am aware of that. Say: 'What Allah wills then what Muhammad wills."'Another chain from Tufail bin Sakhbarah, the brother of 'Aishah by her mother, from the Prophet (ﷺ), with similar wording.

Chapter 14: One who uses ambiguous words in his oath

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Your oath is as your companion understands it to be."

Chapter 18: Fulfilling vows

It was narrated from Ibn Abbas that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said

"O Messenger of Allah, I vowed to offer a sacrifice at Buwanah." He said: "Do you intend any action of Ignorance period?" He said: "No." He said: "Then fulfill your vow."