The Book of Oaths and Vows - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3787

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better and leave his oath.'"

Commentary on the Hadith

This noble hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence regarding oaths. The scholars have explained that when a person takes an oath to do or refrain from something, but subsequently realizes that fulfilling that oath would lead to a greater harm or prevent a greater good, then the better course is to abandon the oath and perform the expiation (kaffarah).

Imam al-Nawawi, in his commentary on Sahih Muslim, explains that this hadith demonstrates the mercy and flexibility of Islamic law. The "better" mentioned refers to what is more pleasing to Allah, whether through greater benefit, lesser harm, or superior religious merit. This ruling applies when the oath involves permissible matters, not when it concerns obligatory acts or prohibited ones.

The expiation for breaking such an oath is detailed in the Quran (5:89): feeding ten needy persons, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If unable to do these, then fasting three days. This balanced approach maintains the sanctity of oaths while recognizing that human judgment may err and circumstances may change.

Scholarly Interpretation

Classical scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani and al-Qurtubi emphasize that this teaching reflects the Islamic principle of removing hardship. They note that the phrase "sees something better" indicates a genuine realization of greater benefit, not mere preference. The four schools of Islamic law unanimously agree on this ruling, though they differ slightly on details of implementation.

This prophetic guidance protects believers from being trapped by their own words when better alternatives emerge, encouraging continual pursuit of what is most pleasing to Allah rather than rigid adherence to initial decisions that may prove suboptimal upon reflection.