Oaths and Vows
كتاب الإيمان والنذور
Chapter 1: Section 1
Ibn ‘Umar said the greatest oath the Prophet used was, “No, by Him who overturns the hearts.” Bukhari transmitted it.
Chapter 0
Chapter 1: Section 1
Abu Musa reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I swear by God that if God will, I shall not swear an oath and then consider something else to be better than it without making atonement for my oath and doing the thing that is better.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
A version has, "Do the thing that is better and make atonement for your oath.’* Bukhari, al-Aiman wan-nudhur, I and Muslim, Aiman, 19 give the first form in full. I have not found the other version.
Chapter 2: Section 2
Buraida reported God’s Messenger as saying, “He who swears by faithfulness* is not one of our number.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.* Amana. It is held that the objection is due to the fact that the word is not the name of one of God's attributes, but merely one of the duties prescribed to mankind. It is an unsuitable word because its use suggests that it is being equated with one of God’s attributes.
He reported God’s Messenger as stating that if anyone says, “I am free from Islam,” that is just as he has said if he is lying, but if he is speaking the truth he will not return safely to Islam. Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Abu Huraira said that when God’s Messenger swore an oath it was, “No, and I ask forgiveness of God.” Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah transmitted it.
Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as stating that if anyone says when swearing an oath, “If God will”, he is not held accountable if he breaks it. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it, but Tirmidhi mentioned a number who traced it no farther back than Ibn ‘Umar.
Chapter 4: Vows - Section 1
‘A’isha reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone vows to obey God let him obey Him, but if anyone vows to disobey Him let him not disobey Him.” Bukhari transmitted it.
While the Prophet was preaching a man was standing, so he asked about him and was told that he was Abu Isra’il who had taken a vow to stand and not to sit, or go into the shade, or speak, but to fast. Thereupon the Prophet said, “Command him to speak, go into the shade, sit and complete his fast.” Bukhari transmitted it.
Ibn ‘Abbas told that Sa'd b. ‘Ubada asked the Prophet for a decision about a vow taken by his mother who had died before fulfilling it, and that he gave decision that he should fulfil it on her behalf. (Bukhari and Muslim.)
Ka'b b. Malik told that he said, “Messenger of God, to make my repentance complete* I should divest myself of my property as sadaqa for God and His Messenger.” God's Messenger replied, “Retain some of your property, for that will be better for you.” So he said he would retain the portion he had at Khaibar. (Bukhari and Muslim.) This is part of a long tradition.* Mirqat, iii, 566 refers this to his withdrawal from the expedition to Tabuk without a valid reason.Pt. 10
Chapter 5: Vows - Section 2
bu Lubaba told that she said to the Prophet, “To make my repentance complete* I should abandon my people’s abode in which I committed sin and divest myself of all my property to be given as sadaqa.” He replied, “A third will be enough for you to give.” Razin transmitted it.* The story is given in Ibn Hisham’s as-Sirat an nabawiya (Cairo, 1355/1936), iii. 247. Quraiza had consulted him as to whether they should surrender unconditionally, and while he replied that they should, he put his hand to his throat to indicate that if they did they would be put to death, thus giving them a warning. Al-Qur’an, 8:27 is said to be connected with this incident.
Sa'id b. al-Musayyib told that there were two brothers among the Ansar who shared an inheritance and that when one of them asked the other for the portion due to him he replied, “If you ask me again for the portion due to you, all my property will be devoted to the Ka'ba.”1 ‘Umar, telling him that the Ka'ba did not need his property, ordered I him to make atonement for his oath and speak to his brother, for he had heard God’s Messenger say, “An oath or a vow to disobey the Lord, t or to break ties of relationship, or about something over which one has no control is not binding on you.” Abu Dawud transmitted it.1. Fi ritaj al-ka'ba. This phrase which speaks of the door of the Ka'ba is used as a phrase for the Ka'ba itself.2. Mirqat, iii, 570 says it means he is to speak to his brother about repeating his request.
Chapter 1: Section 1
He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God forbids you to swear by your fathers. If anyone swears he must swear by God, or keep silent.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
‘Abd ar-Rahman b. Samura reported God's Messenger as saying, “Do not swear by idols or by your fathers.” Muslim transmitted it.
He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "I swear by God that it is more sinful in God’s sight for one of you to persist in his oath regarding his family than to give for it the atonement God has imposed.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)
He reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Your oath should be about something regarding which your companion will believe you.” Muslim transmitted it.
He reported God's Messenger as saying, "An oath is to be interpreted according to the intention of the one who takes it.” Muslim transmitted it.
Chapter 2: Section 2
Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, "Do not swear by your fathers, or by your mothers, or by rivals (Cf. Al-Qur’an 2:22 etc. The reference is to idols or false gods) to God; and swear by God only when you are speaking the truth.” Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.