He who took an oath and (later on) found another thing better than that, he should do that which is better, and expiate for the vow (broken by him).
The Book of Oaths - Sahih Muslim 1650 c
He who took an oath and (later on) found another thing better than that, he should do that which is better, and expiate for the vow (broken by him).
Commentary on the Hadith
This noble hadith from Sahih Muslim establishes a profound principle in Islamic jurisprudence regarding oaths and vows. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) teaches us that if a person takes an oath to do or abstain from something, but later discovers a better course of action, they should pursue what is better and perform expiation for breaking their initial oath.
The wisdom behind this teaching is that Islam prioritizes benefit and prevents harm. Sometimes a person might swear to do something that initially appears good, but subsequent circumstances reveal a superior alternative that brings greater benefit or prevents greater harm. In such cases, clinging stubbornly to the initial oath would contradict the spirit of Islamic law which seeks ease and benefit for creation.
The expiation (kaffarah) for breaking such an oath is specified in the Quran (5:89) as feeding ten needy persons, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If one cannot do these, then fasting three days. This expiation serves as both a spiritual purification and a reminder to be cautious when making oaths.
Scholarly Insights
Imam An-Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, explains that this hadith demonstrates the flexibility and wisdom of Islamic law. It shows that the objective is not mere ritual adherence but the pursuit of what is truly beneficial.
Classical scholars emphasize that "better" in this context refers to what is more pleasing to Allah - whether through greater religious benefit, more comprehensive good, or prevention of greater harm. This is not a license to break oaths arbitrarily, but rather a dispensation when genuine superior benefit becomes apparent.
This ruling applies to oaths regarding permissible matters. As for oaths involving obligatory acts or prohibitions, different rules apply since one cannot abandon an obligation or commit a prohibition based on personal preference.