Jami` at-Tirmidhi #1565
The Book on Vows and Oaths
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ
" مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلْيَفْعَلْ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ أَنَّ الْكَفَّارَةَ قَبْلَ الْحِنْثِ تُجْزِئُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ لاَ يُكَفِّرُ إِلاَّ بَعْدَ الْحِنْثِ . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ إِنْ كَفَّرَ بَعْدَ الْحِنْثِ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ وَإِنْ كَفَّرَ قَبْلَ الْحِنْثِ أَجْزَأَهُ .
That the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever takes an oath, and then he sees that something else is better than it, then he should make atonement for his oath and then do it."
Narrated by Narrated Abu Hurairah:
Context
Abu Hurairah narrates that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ instructed that if someone swears an oath and finds a better option, they should atone for their oath and choose the better path. This highlights the importance of ethical responsibility and making choices that align with goodness.
Modern Application
In everyday life, this principle encourages individuals to remain flexible and prioritize ethical decisions over rigid adherence to past commitments. It promotes a culture of integrity and accountability.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Ethical Responsibility and Oaths & Vows because it emphasizes the importance of fulfilling ethical obligations and making responsible choices.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةُ المَائـِدَةِ
Al-Maaida (The Table)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلْأَيْمَٰنَ ۖ فَكَفَّٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَٰكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍۢ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّٰرَةُ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ۚ وَٱحْفَظُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation 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. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.
سُورَةُ الأَنفَالِ
Al-Anfaal (The Spoils of War)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَن فِىٓ أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَسْرَىٰٓ إِن يَعْلَمِ ٱللَّهُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْرًۭا يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْرًۭا مِّمَّآ أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
سُورَةُ النَّمۡلِ
An-Naml (The Ant)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِلَّا مَن ظَلَمَ ثُمَّ بَدَّلَ حُسْنًۢا بَعْدَ سُوٓءٍۢ فَإِنِّى غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
Otherwise, he who wrongs, then substitutes good after evil - indeed, I am Forgiving and Merciful.
سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ
An-Nisaa (The Women)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا
And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful.
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
فَمَنْ خَافَ مِن مُّوصٍۢ جَنَفًا أَوْ إِثْمًۭا فَأَصْلَحَ بَيْنَهُمْ فَلَآ إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
But if one fears from the bequeather [some] error or sin and corrects that which is between them, there is no sin upon him. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Common Words
109 total83 unique14 repeated
ٱلله6x
من4x
أو4x
فى3x
أيمنكم3x
غفور3x
رحيم3x
يؤاخذكم2x
فمن2x
يجد2x
لكم2x
إن2x
خيرا2x
ثم2x
لا1x
بٱللغو1x
ولكن1x
بما1x
عقدتم1x
ٱلأيمن1x
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About Jami` at-Tirmidhi
This hadith is #1565 from Jami` at-Tirmidhi, in the Book of The Book on Vows and Oaths. It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abu Hurairah:.