What Has Been Related About It Being Disliked To Swear By A Religion Other Than Islam Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1543

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1543
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْرَقُ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ الدَّسْتَوَائِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ الضَّحَّاكِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ مَنْحَلَفَ بِمِلَّةٍ غَيْرِ الإِسْلاَمِ كَاذِبًا فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ فِي هَذَا إِذَا حَلَفَ الرَّجُلُ بِمِلَّةٍ سِوَى الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ هُوَ يَهُودِيٌّ أَوْ نَصْرَانِيٌّ إِنْ فَعَلَ كَذَا وَكَذَا فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ الشَّىْءَ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ قَدْ أَتَى عَظِيمًا وَلاَ كَفَّارَةَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَبِهِ يَقُولُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ وَإِلَى هَذَا الْقَوْلِ ذَهَبَ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالتَّابِعِينَ وَغَيْرِهِمْ عَلَيْهِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَفَّارَةُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ سُفْيَانَ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ
Translation
Narrated Thabit bin Adh-Dahhak

That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam while lying, then he is as he said."

Commentary

The Book on Vows and Oaths - Jami' at-Tirmidhi

Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1543

Hadith Text

"Whoever swears by a religion other than Islam while lying, then he is as he said."

Scholarly Commentary

This hadith contains a grave warning against swearing by false deities or religions. The phrase "while lying" indicates the person knows the falsity of what they swear by, yet deliberately chooses it over Allah.

Scholars explain that such an oath constitutes shirk (associating partners with Allah) because it attributes divine authority to something other than Allah. The consequence "he is as he said" means he will be accounted as having left Islam if he dies upon this belief.

Imam al-Tirmidhi classified this hadith as hasan sahih (good and authentic). The ruling applies when one intentionally swears by other religions recognizing their falsehood, not out of ignorance. The person must immediately repent and reaffirm tawhid.

Legal Ruling

This oath is invalid and sinful. One must seek forgiveness and renew their shahadah. No expiation (kaffarah) suffices for shirk - only sincere repentance. The scholars unanimously prohibit swearing by anything except Allah.