The Book of Oaths and Vows

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that the oath by which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would swear was: ‘No, by the Turner of hearts.’

It was narrated from Salim that his father said: The oath by which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would swear was: ‘No, by the Turner of hearts.’

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ 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 there for its people.’ Jibril looked, then returned and said, ‘By Your might, no one will hear of it without entering it.’ Allah then had it surrounded by hardships and said, ‘Go and look at it and at what I have prepared there for its people.’ Jibril saw that it was surrounded by hardships and said, ‘By Your might, I fear no one will enter it.’ Allah said, ‘Go and look at the Fire and at what I have prepared there for its people.’ Jibril saw it, with its parts piled one upon another, then returned and said, ‘By Your might, no one will enter it.’ Allah then had it surrounded by desires and said, ‘Go back and look at it.’ Jibril saw it surrounded by desires, returned, and said, ‘By Your might, I fear that no one will be saved from it; everyone will enter it.’

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever swears an oath should swear only by Allah.’ Quraysh used to swear by their forefathers, so he said, ‘Do not swear by your forefathers.’

It was narrated that Abdullah ibn Umar said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.’

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that he once heard Umar say, ‘By my father and my mother.’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.’ Umar said, ‘By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether intentionally or while quoting someone else.’

It was narrated from Umar that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.’ Umar said, ‘By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether of my own accord or while quoting someone else.’

It was narrated from Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers.’ Umar said, ‘By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether of my own accord or while quoting someone else.’

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Do not swear by your fathers, your mothers, or idols. Swear only by Allah, and do not swear except truthfully.’

It was narrated from Thabit ibn ad-Dahhak that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever knowingly swears falsely by a religion other than Islam is as he claims.’ Qutaybah’s version says ‘deliberately’; Yazid’s version adds: ‘Whoever kills himself with something will be punished with it in the Fire of Hell.’

It was narrated from Thabit ibn ad-Dahhak that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever knowingly swears by a religion other than Islam is as he claims; and whoever kills himself with something will be punished with it in the Hereafter.’

It was narrated from Abdullah ibn Buraydah, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever says, “I disavow Islam,” if he is lying, then it is as he said; but if he is truthful, he will not return to Islam safely.’

It was narrated from Qutaylah, a woman from Juhaynah, that a Jewish man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘You set up equals with Allah and associate others with Him. You say, “As Allah wills and as you will,” and you say, “By the Kaabah.”’ The Prophet ﷺ instructed them, when swearing an oath, to say, ‘By the Lord of the Kaabah,’ and to say, ‘As Allah wills, then as you will.’

It was narrated from Abd ar-Rahman ibn Samurah that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Do not swear by your forefathers or by false gods.’

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Whoever among you swears by al-Lat should say, “There is no god but Allah.” Whoever says to his companion, “Come, let us gamble,” should give charity.’

It was narrated from Musab ibn Sad, from his father, who said: We were discussing something, and I had only recently left the pre-Islamic era behind when I swore by al-Lat and al-Uzza. The Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘What a terrible thing you have said! Go to the Messenger of Allah and tell him; we think you may have committed disbelief.’ I went and told him. He said, ‘Say: “There is no god but Allah alone, without partner” three times; seek refuge in Allah from Satan three times; spit lightly to your left three times; and do not do that again.’

It was narrated from Musab ibn Sad, from his father, who said: I swore by al-Lat and al-Uzza, and my companions said, ‘What a terrible thing you have said! You have said something abhorrent.’ I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and told him. He said, ‘Say: “There is no god but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over all things.” Spit lightly to your left three times, seek refuge in Allah from Satan, and do not do that again.’

It was narrated from al-Bara ibn Azib that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to do seven things: attend funerals, visit the sick, invoke Allah’s mercy for someone who sneezes, accept invitations, support the oppressed, honor an oath, and return greetings of peace.

It was narrated from Abu Musa that the Prophet ﷺ said: ‘If I swear an oath and then see that something else is better, I do what is better.’

It was narrated that Abu Musa al-Ashari said: I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a group of Asharis and asked him for mounts. He replied, ‘By Allah, I have no mounts to give you.’ We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought and he gave us three. As we set out, we said to one another, ‘May Allah not bless us: we came asking the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for mounts, and he swore he would not give us any, then he did.’ Abu Musa said: We went back and told the Prophet ﷺ. He said, ‘I did not provide you with mounts; Allah provided them for you. By Allah, whenever I swear an oath and then see that something else is better, I offer expiation for my oath and do what is better.’