The Chapters on Expiation

"When the Prophet (ﷺ) took an oath he would say: 'By the One in Whose Hand is the soul of Muhammad."'

"‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Rifā‘a ibn Arāba al-Juhanī

"The swearing of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he took an oath and I bear witness before Allah was: 'By the One in Whose Hand is my soul."'

أَشْهَدُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ ‏"‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Rifā‘a ibn Arāba al-Juhanī

"The swearing most frequently sworn by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was: 'No, by the Controller of the hearts."'

كَانَتْ أَكْثَرُ أَيْمَانِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ لاَ وَمُصَرِّفِ الْقُلُوبِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 1 other version

"The swearing of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was: 'No, and I ask Allah for forgiveness."'

كَانَتْ يَمِينُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ لاَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard him swearing by his father. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Allah forbids you from making oaths by your forefathers." 'Umar said: I never took an oath by them (i.e., my forefathers) myself nor narrating such words from anyone else.”

"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ ‏"

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb + 5 other versions

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not take oaths by idols nor by your forefathers. "

"‏ لاَ تَحْلِفُوا بِالطَّوَاغِي وَلاَ بِآبَائِكُمْ ‏"

Narrated by Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah + 3 other versions

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes an oath, and swears, saying: 'By Al-Lat and Al-Uzza,' let him say:'La ilaha illallah.' "

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ فَقَالَ فِي يَمِينِهِ بِاللاَّتِ وَالْعُزَّى فَلْيَقُلْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 13 other versions

"I took an oath by Lat and 'Uzza. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said : 'Say: "La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu" (None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, with no partner or associate)," then spit toward your left three times, and seek refuge with Allah, and do not do that again."'

"‏ قُلْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ثُمَّ انْفُثْ عَنْ يَسَارِكَ ثَلاَثًا وَتَعَوَّذْ وَلاَ تَعُدْ ‏"

Narrated by Sa‘d + 4 other versions

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever takes an oath to follow a religion other than Islam, telling a deliberate lie, he will be as he said.'"

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ بِمِلَّةٍ سِوَى الإِسْلاَمِ كَاذِبًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ ‏"

Narrated by Thābit ibn ad-Dahhāk + 25 other versions

"If that happens, I will be a Jew." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'That is guaranteed."

سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ رَجُلاً يَقُولُ أَنَا إِذًا لَيَهُودِيٌّ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ وَجَبَتْ ‏"

Narrated by Anas ibn Mālik

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) 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."

"‏ مَنْ قَالَ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِنَ الإِسْلاَمِ فَإِنْ كَانَ كَاذِبًا فَهُوَ كَمَا قَالَ وَإِنْ كَانَ صَادِقًا لَمْ يَعُدْ إِلَيْهِ الإِسْلاَمُ سَالِمًا ‏"

Narrated by Buraydah + 6 other versions

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) heard a man taking an oath by his father and said: 'Do not make oaths by your forefathers. Whoever makes an oath by Allah, let him fulfill his oath, and if an oath is sworn for a person by Allah, let him accept it. Whoever is not content with Allah has nothing to do with…

"‏ لاَ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ مَنْ حَلَفَ بِاللَّهِ فَلْيَصْدُقْ وَمَنْ حُلِفَ لَهُ بِاللَّهِ فَلْيَرْضَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِاللَّهِ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

"Eisa bin Maryam saw a man stealing and said: 'Did you steal?' He said: 'No, by the One besides Whom there is no other God.' 'Eisa said: 'I believe in Allah, and I do not believe what my eyes see.'"

"‏ رَأَى عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَجُلاً يَسْرِقُ فَقَالَ أَسَرَقْتَ قَالَ لاَ وَالَّذِي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ عِيسَى آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَذَّبْتُ بَصَرِي ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 5 other versions

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "An oath (leads to) either sin or regret. "

"‏ إِنَّمَا الْحَلِفُ حِنْثٌ أَوْ نَدَمٌ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

'Whoever swears an oath and says In sha' Allah, he will have made an exception."(2)

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ فَقَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَلَهُ ثُنْيَاهُ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

"Whoever swears an oath and says In sha' Allah, if he wishes he may go ahead and if he wishes he may not, without having broken his oath."

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ وَاسْتَثْنَى إِنْ شَاءَ رَجَعَ وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ غَيْرُ حَانِثٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 3 other versions

"Whoever swears an oath and says In sha' Allah, will never break his oath."

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ وَاسْتَثْنَى فَلَمْ يَحْنَثْ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

"I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with a group of Asharites and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: 'By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to give you to ride.' We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be…

"‏ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثَةِ إِبِلٍ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ…

Narrated by Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari + 22 other versions

the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said: "Whoever swears an oath then sees that something else is better than it, let him do that which is better and offer expiation for what he swore about. "

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Adiyy ibn Hātim + 13 other versions

"I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, my cousin comes to me and I swear that I will not give him anything or uphold the ties of kinship with him.' He said: 'Offer expiation for what you swore about.'"

"‏ كَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ ‏"

Narrated by Mālik ibn Nadla

"Whoever takes an oath to cut off the ties of kinship, or to do something that is not right, the fulfillment of his vow is not to do that."

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ أَوْ فِيمَا لاَ يَصْلُحُ فَبِرُّهُ أَنْ لاَ يَتِمَّ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah

"Whoever swears an oath then sees that something else is better than it, let him not do it, and his leaving it is the expiation for it. "

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيَتْرُكْهَا فَإِنَّ تَرْكَهَا كَفَّارَتُهَا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 7 other versions

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) offered expiation of a Sa' of dates, and he enjoined the people to do likewise. Whoever does not have that (must give) half a Sa' of wheat."

كَفَّرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِصَاعٍ مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ بِذَلِكَ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَنِصْفُ صَاعٍ مِنْ بُرٍّ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

"A man would give his family food that was abundant and another would give his family food that was barely sufficient, then the following was revealed: 'With the Awsat of that with which you feed your families...’”(2)

كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَقُوتُ أَهْلَهُ قُوتًا فِيهِ سَعَةٌ وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ يَقُوتُ أَهْلَهُ قُوتًا فِيهِ شِدَّةٌ فَنَزَلَتْ ‏‏{مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ}‏ ‏.‏

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

"If anyone of you insists on fulfilling what he swore to (after learning that it is wrong) then it is more sinful before Allah than (breaking the oath for which) the expiation that has been enjoined upon him."

"‏ إِذَا اسْتَلَجَّ أَحَدُكُمْ فِي الْيَمِينِ فَإِنَّهُ آثَمُ لَهُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْكَفَّارَةِ الَّتِي أُمِرَ بِهَا ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to help fulfill the oath."

أَمَرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بِإِبْرَارِ الْمُقْسِمِ ‏.‏

Narrated by Al-Barā' ibn ‘Āzib

"On the Day of the conquest of Makkah, he came with his father and he said: 'O Messenger of Allah, give my father a share of Hijrah.' He said: 'There is no Hijrah.' Then he went away and entered upon 'Abbas and said: 'Do you know who I am?' He said: 'Yes.' Then 'Abbas went out, wearing a shirt and…

يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اجْعَلْ لأَبِي نَصِيبًا فِي الْهِجْرَةِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّهُ لاَ هِجْرَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَانْطَلَقَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى الْعَبَّاسِ فَقَالَ قَدْ عَرَفْتَنِي فَقَالَ أَجَلْ ‏.‏ فَخَرَجَ الْعَبَّاسُ فِي…

'When anyone of you swears an oath, let him not say: 'What Allah wills and what you will.' Rather let him say: 'What Allah wills and then what you will.'

"‏ إِذَا حَلَفَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَقُلْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَشِئْتَ ‏.‏ وَلَكِنْ لِيَقُلْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ شِئْتَ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

a Muslim man saw in a dream that he met a man from among the People of the Book, who said: "What good people you would be if only you were not committing Shirk. For you say: 'What Allah wills and Muhammad wills."' He mentioned that to the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: "By Allah, I am aware of that. Say…

"‏ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَعْرِفُهَا لَكُمْ قُولُوا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ شَاءَ مُحَمَّدٌ ‏"

Narrated by At-Tufayl ibn Sakhbara

"We went out looking for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and Wa'il bin Hujr was with us. An enemy of his seized him and the people were reluctant to swear an oath but I swore that he was my brother, so they set him free. We came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and I told him that the people had been…

خَرَجْنَا نُرِيدُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَمَعَنَا وَائِلُ بْنُ حُجْرٍ فَأَخَذَهُ عَدُوٌّ لَهُ فَتَحَرَّجَ النَّاسُ أَنْ يَحْلِفُوا فَحَلَفْتُ أَنَا أَنَّهُ أَخِي فَخَلَّى سَبِيلَهُ فَأَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ…

Narrated by Suwayd ibn Hanzala

"The oath is only according to the intention of the one who requests the oath to be taken."'

"‏ إِنَّمَا الْيَمِينُ عَلَى نِيَّةِ الْمُسْتَحْلِفِ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 1 other version

"Your oath is as your companion understands it to be."

"‏ يَمِينُكَ عَلَى مَا يُصَدِّقُكَ بِهِ صَاحِبُكَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 4 other versions

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade vows and said: 'They are just a means of taking wealth from the miserly."'

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَنِ النَّذْرِ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّمَا يُسْتَخْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ اللَّئِيمِ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar + 11 other versions

"Vows do not bring the son of Adam anything unless it has been decreed for him. But he is dominated by Divine preordainment, and will get what is decreed for him. And (vows) are a means of making the miser give something, so what he desires becomes obtainable for him, which was not obtainable…

"‏ إِنَّ النَّذْرَ لاَ يَأْتِي ابْنَ آدَمَ بِشَىْءٍ إِلاَّ مَا قُدِّرَ لَهُ وَلَكِنْ يَغْلِبُهُ الْقَدَرُ مَا قُدِّرَ لَهُ فَيُسْتَخْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ الْبَخِيلِ فَيَتَيَسَّرُ عَلَيْهِ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ يَتَيَسَّرُ عَلَيْهِ…

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 4 other versions

"[There is no vow to commit disobedience and] no vow concerning that which the son of Adam does not possess."

"‏ لاَ نَذْرَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ وَلاَ نَذْرَ فِيمَا لاَ يَمْلِكُ ابْنُ آدَمَ ‏"

Narrated by Imrān ibn Husayn + 9 other versions

"There is no vow to commit disobedience, and the expiation (for such a vow) is the expiation for breaking an oath."

"‏ لاَ نَذْرَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ وَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 9 other versions

"Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him. "

"‏ مَنْ نَذَرَ أَنْ يُطِيعَ اللَّهَ فَلْيُطِعْهُ وَمَنْ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَعْصِيَ اللَّهَ فَلاَ يَعْصِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 17 other versions

"Whoever makes a vow and does not state it specifically, the expiation (for such a vow) is the expiation for breaking an oath. "

"‏ مَنْ نَذَرَ نَذْرًا وَلَمْ يُسَمِّهِ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ ‏"

Narrated by Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir

"Whoever makes a vow and does not state it specifically, the expiation (for such a vow) is the expiation for breaking an oath. Whoever makes a vow and is not able to fulfill it, the expiation for that is the expiation for breaking an oath. Whoever makes a vow and is able to fulfill it, let him do…

"‏ مَنْ نَذَرَ نَذْرًا وَلَمْ يُسَمِّهِ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ وَمَنْ نَذَرَ نَذْرًا لَمْ يُطِقْهُ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ وَمَنْ نَذَرَ نَذْرًا أَطَاقَهُ فَلْيَفِ بِهِ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās + 3 other versions

"I made a vow during the Ignorance period and I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) (about it) after I became Muslim. He told me to fulfill my vow."

نَذَرْتُ نَذْرًا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَسَأَلْتُ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ بَعْدَ مَا أَسْلَمْتُ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُوفِيَ بِنَذْرِي ‏.‏

Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattāb

"O Messenger of Allah, I vowed to offer a sacrifice at Buwanah." He said: "Do you intend any action of Ignorance period?" He said: "No." He said: "Then fulfill your vow."

أَنَّ رَجُلاً، جَاءَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ أَنْ أَنْحَرَ بِبُوَانَةَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ فِي نَفْسِكَ شَىْءٌ مِنْ أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏ قَالَ…

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

her father met the Prophet (ﷺ) when she was riding behind him. He said: "I vowed to offer a sacrifice at Buwanah." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Is there any idol there?" He said: "No." He said: " Fulfill your vow." (Hasan)Another chain with similar wording.

أَنَّ أَبَاهَا، لَقِيَ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَهِيَ رَدِيفَةٌ لَهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ أَنْ أَنْحَرَ بِبُوَانَةَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ هَلْ بِهَا وَثَنٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ لاَ ‏.‏…

Narrated by Maymūna bint Kardam

Sa'd bin 'Ubadah asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about a vow which his mother had made, but she had died without fulfilling it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Fulfill it on her behalf ."

نَذْرٍ كَانَ عَلَى أُمِّهِ تُوُفِّيَتْ وَلَمْ تَقْضِهِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏"‏ اقْضِهِ عَنْهَا ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās

a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: "My mother has died, and she had made a vow to fast, but she died before she could fulfill it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Let her guardian fast on her behalf ."

"‏ لِيَصُمْ عَنْهَا الْوَلِيُّ ‏"

Narrated by Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh

'Uqbah bin 'Amir told him, that his sister vowed to walk, barefoot and bareheaded, and he mentioned that to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) He said: "Order her to ride and to cover her head, and to fast for three days."

"‏ مُرْهَا فَلْتَرْكَبْ وَلْتَخْتَمِرْ وَلْتَصُمْ ثَلاَثَةَ أَيَّامٍ ‏"

Narrated by Uqbah ibn ‘Āmir + 2 other versions

"The Prophet (ﷺ) saw an old man walking between his two sons, and he said: What is the matter with him?' His sons said: 'A vow, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Let this old man ride, for Allah has no need of you or your vow."'

"‏ مَا شَأْنُ هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنَاهُ نَذْرٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ ارْكَبْ أَيُّهَا الشَّيْخُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنْكَ وَعَنْ نَذْرِكَ ‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 4 other versions

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) passed by a man in Makkah who was standing in the sun. He said: "What is this?" They said: "He vowed to fast and not to seek shade until night comes, and not to speak, and to remain standing." He said: "Let him speak and seek shade and let him sit down, but let him complete…

مَا هَذَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالُوا نَذَرَ أَنْ يَصُومَ وَلاَ يَسْتَظِلَّ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ وَلاَ يَتَكَلَّمَ وَلاَ يَزَالَ قَائِمًا ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ لِيَتَكَلَّمْ وَلْيَسْتَظِلَّ وَلْيَجْلِسْ وَلْيُتِمَّ صِيَامَهُ ‏"

Narrated by Ibn ‘Abbās