The Chapters on Expiation

كتاب الكفارات

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 that Rifa'ah bin 'Arabah A-Juhani said

"The swearing of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he took an oath and I bear witness before Allah was: 'By the One in Whose Hand is my soul."'

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.”

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not take oaths by idols nor by your forefathers. "

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.' "

It was narrated that Sa'd said

"I took an oath by Lat and 'Uzza. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said : 'Say: "La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu" (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, with no partner or associate)," then spit toward your left three times, and seek refuge with Allah, and do not do that again."'

Chapter 3: One who takes an oath to follow a religion other than Islam

It was narrated that Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever takes an oath to follow a religion other than Islam, telling a deliberate lie, he will be as he said.'"

It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard a man say

"If that happens, I will be a Jew." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'That is guaranteed."

It was narrated from Abdullah bin Buraidah that his father told that

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever says: 'I have nothing to do with Islam,' if he is lying then he is as he said, and if he is telling the truth, his Islam will not be sound."

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

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard a man taking an oath by his father and said: 'Do not make oaths by your forefathers. Whoever makes an oath by Allah, let him fulfill his oath, and if an oath is sworn for a person by Allah, let him accept it. Whoever is not content with Allah has nothing to do with Allah.'

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 5: Swearing is (i.e., leads to) sin or regret

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "An oath (leads to) either sin or regret. "

Chapter 6: Uttering the exception when swearing

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

'Whoever swears an oath and says In sha' Allah, he will have made an exception."(2)

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."

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar

"Whoever swears an oath and says In sha' Allah, will never break 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.'"

It was narrated from 'Adi bin Hatim that

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said: "Whoever swears an oath then sees that something else is better than it, let him do that which is better and offer expiation for what he swore about. "