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Surah Al-Ma’idah, Verse 89

سورة المائدة، الآية ٨٩

5:89 Juz 7 Hizb 13 Page 122 of the mushaf Medinan surah

Text of verse 5:89

لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلْأَيْمَٰنَ فَكَفَّٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَٰكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّٰرَةُ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ۝٨٩

Transliteration

lā yuākhidhukumu l-lahu bil-laghwi fī aymānikum walākin yuākhidhukum bimā ʿaqqadttumu l-aymāna fakaffāratuhu iṭ'ʿāmu ʿasharati masākīna min awsaṭi mā tuṭ'ʿimūna ahlīkum aw kis'watuhum aw taḥrīru raqabatin faman lam yajid faṣiyāmu thalāthati ayyāmin dhālika kaffāratu aymānikum idhā ḥalaftum wa-iḥ'faẓū aymānakum kadhālika yubayyinu l-lahu lakum āyātihi laʿallakum tashkurūna

Translation

Allāh will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless279 in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation280 is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths.281 Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses [i.e., revealed law] that you may be grateful.

Notes

[279] i.e., what is sworn to only out of habit of speech or what one utters carelessly without true intent.
[280] i.e., that for a deliberate oath.
[281] i.e., do not take oaths indiscriminately or swear to do that which is sinful, requiring expiation.

Translation in another language
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary Read in the surah

Verse 89 of Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:89), a Medinan surah, is in juz 7, on page 122 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.

Listen to verse 89 of Surah Al-Ma’idah

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Tafsir of verse 89

Al-Mukhtasar

Allah will not take you to account, O believers, for the oaths that you speak unintentionally. He will take you to account for those oaths that you break after making them with a firm intention in your hearts. The atonement for such oaths is one of three options: feeding ten poor people with the average food of your city, by giving each poor person half a ṣā‘ of food; or clothing them with what society considers to be a suit of clothing; or freeing a believing slave. If the person required to make atonement does not find any of these three things, then the required atonement is fasting for three days. That is the atonement of your oaths, O believers, when you break them. Guard your oaths from being taken falsely in Allah’s name and from breaking them, unless it is better to do so. If it is better to break your oath, then do so and give the atonement. Just as Allah has explained to you the atonement for oaths, He also explains to you His laws, which make clear what is lawful and what is unlawful, so that you might thank Allah for having taught you what you did not know.

Tafsir of the whole Surah Al-Ma’idah

Other translations of verse 89

Allah will not hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths63, but He will hold you accountable for your deliberate oaths. The expiation thereof is to feed ten needy people from what you normally feed your own family, or to clothe them, or to emancipate a slave. However, if someone cannot afford it, then he must fast for three days. That is the expiation for breaking your oaths. But be mindful of your oaths64. This is how Allah makes His verses clear to you, so that you may be grateful.

Notes

[63] i.e., out of habit or without true intent.
[64] i.e., do not swear much; do not swear while lying; honor your oaths.

Allâh will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten Masâkîn (poor persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn28. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much)29. Thus Allâh make clear to you His Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that you may be grateful.

Notes

[28] (V.5:89) Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "We (Muslims) are the last (to come) in the world, but (will be) foremost on the Day of Resurrection." Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم also said, "By Allâh, if anyone of you insists on fulfilling an oath by which he may harm his family, he commits a greater sin in Allâh’s consideration than that of dissolving his oath and making its expiation with that which Allâh has commanded. (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.8, Hadîth No.621).
[29] (V.5:89) It is better not to take oaths, but if you have taken it, and later you find a better solution for the problem, then act according to the better one and give expiation for the oath.

Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest. The expiation thereof is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk, or the clothing of them, or the liberation of a slave, and for him who findeth not (the wherewithal to do so) then a three days' fast. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah expoundeth unto you His revelations in order that ye may give thanks.

Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful.

Allah does not call you to account for what is vain in your oaths, but He calls you to account for the making of deliberate oaths; so its expiation is the feeding of ten poor men out of the middling (food) you feed your families with, or their clothing, or the freeing of a neck; but whosoever cannot find (means) then fasting for three days; this is the expiation of your oaths when you swear; and guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His communications, that you may be Fateful.

Allah does not take you to task for an idleness in your oaths, but He takes you to task for whatever contracts you have made by oaths. So the expiation thereof is the feeding of ten indigent persons with the average of that wherewith you feed your own families; or their raiment; or the freeing of a neck. (i.e., a slave) Yet, for him who does not find the (means), then (the expiation is) the fasting for three days. That is the expiation of your oaths when you have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah makes evident to you His signs, that possibly you would thank (Him).

Verse 89 word by word

  1. لَا lā Not
  2. يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ yuākhidhukumu will call you to account أ خ ذ
  3. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
  4. بِٱللَّغْوِ bil-laghwi for the thoughtless utterances ل غ و
  5. فِىٓ fī in
  6. أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ aymānikum your oaths ي م ن
  7. وَلَٰكِن walākin but
  8. يُؤَاخِذُكُم yuākhidhukum He will call you to account أ خ ذ
  9. بِمَا bimā for what
  10. عَقَّدتُّمُ ʿaqqadttumu you contracted ع ق د
  11. ٱلْأَيْمَٰنَ l-aymāna (of) the oath ي م ن
  12. فَكَفَّٰرَتُهُۥٓ fakaffāratuhu So its expiation ك ف ر
  13. إِطْعَامُ iṭ'ʿāmu (is) feeding ط ع م
  14. عَشَرَةِ ʿasharati (of) ten ع ش ر
  15. مَسَٰكِينَ masākīna needy people س ك ن
  16. مِنْ min of
  17. أَوْسَطِ awsaṭi average و س ط
  18. مَا mā (of) what
  19. تُطْعِمُونَ tuṭ'ʿimūna you feed ط ع م
  20. أَهْلِيكُمْ ahlīkum your families أ ه ل
  21. أَوْ aw or
  22. كِسْوَتُهُمْ kis'watuhum clothing them ك س و
  23. أَوْ aw or
  24. تَحْرِيرُ taḥrīru freeing ح ر ر
  25. رَقَبَةٍ raqabatin a slave ر ق ب
  26. فَمَن faman But whoever
  27. لَّمْ lam (does) not
  28. يَجِدْ yajid find و ج د
  29. فَصِيَامُ faṣiyāmu (that), then fasting ص و م
  30. ثَلَٰثَةِ thalāthati (for) three ث ل ث
  31. أَيَّامٍ ayyāmin days ي و م
  32. ذَٰلِكَ dhālika That
  33. كَفَّٰرَةُ kaffāratu (is the) expiation ك ف ر
  34. أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ aymānikum (of) your oaths ي م ن
  35. إِذَا idhā when
  36. حَلَفْتُمْ ḥalaftum you have sworn ح ل ف
  37. وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ wa-iḥ'faẓū And guard ح ف ظ
  38. أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ aymānakum your oaths ي م ن
  39. كَذَٰلِكَ kadhālika Thus
  40. يُبَيِّنُ yubayyinu makes clear ب ي ن
  41. ٱللَّهُ l-lahu Allah
  42. لَكُمْ lakum to you
  43. ءَايَٰتِهِۦ āyātihi His Verses أ ي ي
  44. لَعَلَّكُمْ laʿallakum so that you may
  45. تَشْكُرُونَ tashkurūna (be) grateful ش ك ر

Hadiths that cite this verse

Weak Sunan Ibn Majah 2113

"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

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 4613

This verse: {Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths} [Sūrat al-Baqarah: 225] was revealed concerning saying: "No, by Allah" and "Yes, by Allah"

‘Ā'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: This verse: {Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths} [Sūrat al-Baqarah: 225) was revealed concerning saying: "No, by Allah" and "Yes, by Allah".

أُنْزِلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ ‏‏{‏لاَ يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ‏}‏ فِي قَوْلِ الرَّجُلِ لاَ وَاللَّهِ، وَبَلَى وَاللَّهِ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah + 2 other versions Explained

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 4614

That her father (Abu Bakr) never broke his oath till Allah revealed the order of the legal expiation for oath. Abu Bakr said, "If I ever take an oath (to do something) and later find that to do something else is better, then I accept Allah's permission and do that which is better, (and do the legal…

لاَ أَرَى يَمِينًا أُرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، إِلاَّ قَبِلْتُ رُخْصَةَ اللَّهِ، وَفَعَلْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Sahih al-Bukhari 6621

Abu Bakr As-Siddiq had never broken his oaths till Allah revealed the expiation for the oaths. Then he said, "If I take an oath to do something and later on I find something else better than the first one, then I do what is better and make expiation for my oath."

لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتُ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ، وَكَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي‏.‏

Narrated by Ā’ishah

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 6622

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "O `Abdur-Rahman bin Samura! Do not seek to be a ruler, because if you are given authority for it, then you will be held responsible for it, but if you are given it without asking for it, then you will be helped in it (by Allah): and whenever you take an oath to do something…

لاَ تَسْأَلِ الإِمَارَةَ، فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا عَنْ مَسْأَلَةٍ وُكِلْتَ إِلَيْهَا، وَإِنْ أُوتِيتَهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةٍ أُعِنْتَ عَلَيْهَا، وَإِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا…

Narrated by Abdur-Rahmān ibn Samurah + 28 other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 6623

I went to the Prophet (ﷺ) along with a group of Al-Ash`ariyin in order to request him to provide us with mounts. He said, "By Allah, I will not provide you with mounts and I haven't got anything to mount you on." Then we stayed there as long as Allah wished us to stay, and then three very nice…

مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ، بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ، وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي، وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ ‏"‏‏.‏…

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

Other hadiths (6)

Verses related to verse 89

Cited by Ibn Kathir in his explanation of this verse

  • Al-Baqarah 2:184

    أَيَّامًا مَّعْدُودَٰتٍ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ وَعَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُطِيقُونَهُۥ فِدْيَةٌ طَعَامُ مِسْكِينٍ فَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّهُۥ وَأَن تَصُومُوا۟ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

    [Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of other days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers good [i.e., excess] - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.

Verses with similar wording

They share a sequence of words with this verse: useful for telling them apart when memorising.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:242

    كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

    Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses [i.e., laws] that you might use reason.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:225

    لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

    Allāh does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned. And Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.

  • An-Nur 24:59

    وَإِذَا بَلَغَ ٱلْأَطْفَٰلُ مِنكُمُ ٱلْحُلُمَ فَلْيَسْتَـْٔذِنُوا۟ كَمَا ٱسْتَـْٔذَنَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

    And when the children among you reach puberty, let them ask permission [at all times] as those before them have done. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses; and Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

  • Ali ’Imran 3:103

    وَٱعْتَصِمُوا۟ بِحَبْلِ ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا۟ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَآءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِۦٓ إِخْوَٰنًا وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىٰ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

    And hold firmly to the rope of Allāh all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allāh upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allāh make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:196

    وَأَتِمُّوا۟ ٱلْحَجَّ وَٱلْعُمْرَةَ لِلَّهِ فَإِنْ أُحْصِرْتُمْ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ وَلَا تَحْلِقُوا۟ رُءُوسَكُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْهَدْىُ مَحِلَّهُۥ فَمَن كَانَ مِنكُم مَّرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِۦٓ أَذًى مِّن رَّأْسِهِۦ فَفِدْيَةٌ مِّن صِيَامٍ أَوْ صَدَقَةٍ أَوْ نُسُكٍ فَإِذَآ أَمِنتُمْ فَمَن تَمَتَّعَ بِٱلْعُمْرَةِ إِلَى ٱلْحَجِّ فَمَا ٱسْتَيْسَرَ مِنَ ٱلْهَدْىِ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍ فِى ٱلْحَجِّ وَسَبْعَةٍ إِذَا رَجَعْتُمْ تِلْكَ عَشَرَةٌ كَامِلَةٌ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن لَّمْ يَكُنْ أَهْلُهُۥ حَاضِرِى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

    And complete the ḥajj and ʿumrah for Allāh. But if you are prevented, then [offer] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And do not shave your heads until the sacrificial animal has reached its place of slaughter. And whoever among you is ill or has an ailment of the head [making shaving necessary must offer] a ransom of fasting [three days] or charity or sacrifice. And when you are secure, then whoever performs ʿumrah [during the ḥajj months] followed by ḥajj [offers] what can be obtained with ease of sacrificial animals. And whoever cannot find [or afford such an animal] - then a fast of three days during ḥajj and of seven when you have returned [home]. Those are ten complete [days]. This is for those whose family is not in the area of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And fear Allāh and know that Allāh is severe in penalty.

  • Al-Baqarah 2:219

    يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْخَمْرِ وَٱلْمَيْسِرِ قُلْ فِيهِمَآ إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَآ أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ ٱلْعَفْوَ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمُ ٱلْـَٔايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ

    They ask you about wine and gambling. Say, "In them is great sin and [yet, some] benefit for people. But their sin is greater than their benefit." And they ask you what they should spend. Say, "The excess [beyond needs]." Thus Allāh makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought

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Tuesday, October 20, 2026 9 جمادى الأولى 1448 هـ

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