Sunan Abu Dawud #3275
Oaths and Vows (Kitab Al-Aiman Wa Al-Nudhur)
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا الْمُنْذِرُ بْنُ الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَكْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الأَخْنَسِ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم : " لاَ نَذْرَ وَلاَ يَمِينَ فِيمَا لاَ يَمْلِكُ ابْنُ آدَمَ وَلاَ فِي مَعْصِيَةِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ، وَمَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيَدَعْهَا وَلْيَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ، فَإِنَّ تَرْكَهَا كَفَّارَتُهَا " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ : الأَحَادِيثُ كُلُّهَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم : " وَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ " . إِلاَّ فِيمَا لاَ يُعْبَأُ بِهِ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ قُلْتُ لأَحْمَدَ : رَوَى يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ : تَرَكَهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ وَكَانَ أَهْلاً لِذَلِكَ، قَالَ أَحْمَدُ : أَحَادِيثُهُ مَنَاكِيرُ وَأَبُوهُ لاَ يُعْرَفُ .
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: An oath or a vow about something over which a human being has no control, and to disobey Allah, and to break ties of relationship is not binding. If anyone takes an oath and then considers something else better than it, he should give it up, and do what is better, for leaving it is its atonement.
Abu Dawud said: All sound traditions from the Prophet (ﷺ) say: "He should make atonement for his oath," except those versions which are not reliable.
Abu Dawud said: I said to Ahmad: Yahya b. Sa'id (al-Qattan) has transmitted this tradition from Yahya b. 'Ubaid Allah. He (Ahmad b. Hanbal) said: But he gave it up after that, and he was competent for doing it. Ahmad said: His (Yahya b. 'Ubaid Allah's) tradition are munkar (rejected) and his father is not known.
Narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:
Context
In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) addresses the concept of oaths and vows, emphasizing that they should not be made regarding matters beyond human control, disobedience to Allah, or severing family ties. He advises that if one finds a better option after making an oath, they should abandon the oath and pursue the better choice, as this act serves as atonement for the broken oath.
Modern Application
In today's context, this principle encourages individuals to prioritize ethical choices over rigid commitments. For instance, if someone realizes that their promise may lead to harm or is no longer beneficial, they are encouraged to reassess and choose a more positive path, reflecting a commitment to personal integrity and community well-being.
Topics
This hadith is tagged with Oaths & Vows and Community because it discusses the nature of oaths and their implications on personal and communal relationships.
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 البَقَرَةِ
Al-Baqara (The Cow)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
2 ayahs
لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَٰنِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ
Allah 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 Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.
وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ عُرْضَةًۭ لِّأَيْمَٰنِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوا۟ وَتَتَّقُوا۟ وَتُصْلِحُوا۟ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ
And do not make [your oath by] Allah an excuse against being righteous and fearing Allah and making peace among people. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.
سُورَةُ الفَتۡحِ
Al-Fath (The Victory)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَٰهَدَ عَلَيْهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا
Indeed, those who pledge allegiance to you, [O Muhammad] - they are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So he who breaks his word only breaks it to the detriment of himself. And he who fulfills that which he has promised Allah - He will give him a great reward.
سُورَةُ النَّحۡلِ
An-Nahl (The Bee)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
1 ayah
وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌۢ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِهَا وَتَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِمَا صَدَدتُّمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌۭ
And do not take your oaths as [means of] deceit between you, lest a foot slip after it was [once] firm, and you would taste evil [in this world] for what [people] you diverted from the way of Allah, and you would have [in the Hereafter] a great punishment.
Common Words
117 total92 unique12 repeated
ٱلله8x
أيمنكم5x
يؤاخذكم4x
بما4x
لا2x
بٱللغو2x
فى2x
ولكن2x
أو2x
فمن2x
وٱلله2x
ولا2x
عقدتم1x
ٱلأيمن1x
فكفرته1x
إطعام1x
عشرة1x
مسكين1x
من1x
أوسط1x
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About Sunan Abu Dawud
This hadith is #3275 from Sunan Abu Dawud, in the Book of Oaths and Vows (Kitab Al-Aiman Wa Al-Nudhur). It is graded Sahih and narrated by Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-'As:.