The Book of Oaths and Vows

كتاب الأيمان والنذور

Chapter 1: (The Oath Of The Prophet)

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said

"The oath by which the Messenger of Allah used to swear was: 'No, by the Controller of the hearts.'"

Chapter 2: Swearing By The Controller Of The Hearts

It was narrated from Salim that his father said

"The oath by which the Messenger of Allah used to swear was: 'No, by the Controller of the hearts.'"

Chapter 3: Swearing By The Glory ('Izzah) Of Allah

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

"When Allah created Paradise and Hell, He sent Jibril, peace be upon him, to Paradise and said: 'Look at it and at what I have prepared for its people in it.' He looked at it, then he came back and said: 'By Your Glory, no one will hear of it but he will enter it.' So He commanded that it be surrounded by hardships and said: 'Go and look at it and at what I have prepared for its people in it.' He looked at it and saw that it had been surrounded with hardships. He (Jibril) said: 'By Your Glory, I fear that no one will enter it.' He (Allah) said: 'Go and look at the Fire and at what I have prepared for its people in it.' So he looked at it and parts of it were piled upon other parts. He came back and said: 'By Your Glory, no one will enter it.' So He commanded that it be surrounded with pleasures and said: 'Go and look at it.' So he looked at it and saw that it was surrounded with pleasures. He came back and said: 'By Your Glory, I fear that no one will be saved from it and all will enter it.'"

Chapter 4: The Stern Warning Against Swearing By Anything Other Than Allah

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears, let him not swear by anything other than Allah.'" The Quraish used to swear by their forefathers, and so he said: "Do not swear by your forefathers."

Yahya bin Abi Ishaq said

"A man from Banu Ghifar told me, in the gathering of Salim bin 'Abdullah, Salim bin 'Abdullah said: 'I heard 'Abdullah -that is, Ibn 'Umar- say: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.'"'"

Chapter 5: Swearing By One's Forefathers

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that on one occasion the Prophet heard 'Umar saying

"By my father and by my mother." He said: "Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers." 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting it of others."

It was narrated from 'Umar that the Prophet said

"Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers." 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting of others."

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that he told him from 'Umar

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.'" 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting it of others."

Chapter 6: Swearing By One's Mother

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Do not swear by your fathers, nor by your mothers nor by the idols. Swear only by Allah, and do not swear unless you are sincere.'"

Chapter 7: Swearing By A Religion Other Than Islam

It was narrated that Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, telling a lie, will be as he said.'" In his narration, Qutaibah said: "Intentionally." Yazid said: "Telling a lie will be as he said, and whoever kills himself with something. Allah will punish him with it in the Fire of Hell."

Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak narrated that the Messenger of Allah said

"Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam, telling a lie, will be as he said, and whoever kills himself with something will be punished with it in the Hereafter."

Chapter 8: Swearing That One Has Nothing To Do With Islam

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Buraidah that his father said

"The Messenger of Allah 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 9: Swearing By The Ka'bah

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Yasar, from Qutailah, a woman from Juhainah, that a Jew came to the Prophet and said

"You are setting up rivals (to Allah) and associating others (with Him). You say: 'Whatever Allah wills and you will,' and you say: 'By the Ka'bah.'" So the Prophet commanded them, if they wanted to swear an oath, to say: "By the Lord of the Ka'bah;" and to say: "Whatever Allah wills, then what you will."

Chapter 10: Swearing By False Gods (At-Tawaghit)

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah that the Prophet said

"Do not swear by your forefathers or by false gods (At-Tawaghit)."

Chapter 11: Swearing By Al-Lat

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever among you swears and says: By Al-Lat, let him say: La ilaha illallah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah). And whoever says to his companion: Come, let us gamble, then let him give in charity.'"

Chapter 12: Swearing By Al-Lat And Al-'Uzza

It was narrated from Mus'ab bin Sa'd that his father said

"We were talking about something, and I had only recently left Jahiliyyah behind, so I swore by Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah said to me: 'What a bad thing you have said! Go to the Messenger of Allah and tell him, for we think that you have committed Kufr.' So I went to him and told him, and he said to me: 'Say: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner) three times, and seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan three times, and spit dryly to your left three times, and do not say that again.'"

Mus'ab bin Sa'd narrated that his father said

"I swore by Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza and my companions said to me: 'What a bad thing you have said! You have said something horrible.' So I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about that. He said: 'Say: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadir (There is none worthy of worship except Allah with no partner or associate; His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things). Spit to your left three times, seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan, and do not say that again.'"

Chapter 13: Fulfillment Of An Oath (When One Is Adjured To Do Something)

Al-Bara' bin 'Azib said

"The Messenger of Allah commanded us to do seven things: He commanded us to attend funerals, visit the sick, to reply (say: Yarhamuk Allah [may Allah have mercy on you]) to one who sneezes, to accept invitations, to support the oppressed, to fulfill oaths (when adjured by another) and to return greetings of Salaam."

Chapter 14: One Who Swears An Oath And Then Sees That Something Else Is Better

It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophet said

"There is nothing on Earth that I swear an oath upon, and I see that something else is better, but I do that which is better."