Riyad as-Salihin 72

Whoever takes an oath to do something and then he finds a better alternative which brings him closer to Allah should do what is better in piety

Abu Tarīf ‘Adiyy ibn Hātim (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever takes an oath to do something and then he finds a better alternative which brings him closer to Allah should do what is better in piety."

مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ثُمَّ رَأَى أَتْقَى لِلَّهِ مِنْهَا فَلْيَأْتِ التَّقْوَى ‏"‏ ‏.‏ مَا حَنَّثْتُ يَمِينِي ‏.‏

Narrated by Adiyy ibn Hātim Explained

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, I swear by Allah, if Allah wills, I shall not swear to do something but that if I consider something else to be better than it, then I shall make expiation for my oath and adopt the thing that is better." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

"‏إني والله إن شاء الله لا أحلف على يمين، ثم أرى خيرًا منها إلا كفرت عن يميني، وأتيت الذي هو خير‏"

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

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When you swear an oath and consider something else to be better than it, make expiation for your oath and do the thing that is better." [Muslim].

"‏من حلف على يمين، فرأى غيرها خيرًا منها، فليكفر عن يمينه، وليفعل الذي هو خير‏"

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah + 7 other versions

I said, “Messenger of God, tell me what I should do about a cousin of mine to whom I go and ask for something, but who neither gives me anything nor regards my kinship, then when he needs my help comes to me and asks for something, and I have sworn that I would not give him anything or regard his…

عَوْفِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ ابْنَ عَم لي آتيه فَلَا يُعْطِينِي وَلَا يَصِلُنِي ثُمَّ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيَّ فَيَأْتِينِي فَيَسْأَلُنِي وَقَدْ حَلَفْتُ أَنْ لَا أُعْطِيَهُ…

+ 1 other version

"Make atonement for your oath and then do the thing that is better." Abu Dawud said: The version of this tradition transmitted by Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, 'Adi b. Hatim and Abu Hurairah are variant. Some of them indicate breaking the oath before making atonement, and other making atonement before…

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ خَلَفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، نَحْوَهُ قَالَ ‏:‏ ‏"‏ فَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ، ثُمَّ ائْتِ…

Narrated by Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah + 28 other versions

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

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

Narrated by Adiyy ibn Hātim + 13 other versions

"Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better."

"‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلْيَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr + 7 other versions