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

Hadith Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1532

Hadith Text

That the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever swears [about an oath] and says: 'If Allah wills (Insha Allah), then he will not have broken it."

Scholarly Commentary

This noble hadith establishes a fundamental principle in Islamic jurisprudence regarding oaths. The phrase "Insha Allah" (if Allah wills) serves as a conditional clause that protects the oath-taker from sin if circumstances prevent fulfillment.

Classical scholars explain that when one makes an oath while including "Insha Allah," it demonstrates recognition of divine decree and human limitation. This condition acknowledges that all matters ultimately depend on Allah's will, thus the oath becomes contingent upon what Allah permits to occur.

The wisdom behind this teaching is profound: it prevents Muslims from falling into the sin of broken oaths due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control. It teaches humility before Allah's decree while maintaining the sanctity of oaths in Islamic law.

Scholars of hadith classify this as a sahih (authentic) narration, and it forms the basis for legal rulings across all schools of Islamic jurisprudence regarding conditional oaths.