What is Sunan an-Nasa'i 3839 about?

This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i (Book of The Book of Oaths and Vows), narrated by It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah said:, states: ""Whoever swears an oath and says, 'If Allah wills,' then he has the choice: If he wishes, he may go ahead, and if he wishes he may not.""

Is this hadith authentic?

This hadith is graded Sahih. Sahih hadiths are considered the most authentic grade in hadith classification.

Which collection is this hadith from?

This hadith is from Sunan an-Nasa'i, which contains 5,768 hadiths across 52 books. It is hadith number 3839 in the Book of The Book of Oaths and Vows.

I searched for a different number — is this the right hadith?

Hadith numbering varies across editions and translations (USC-MSA, Dar as-Salam, Fath al-Bari, and others). If you followed a link citing a different number but landed here, you may have been redirected to the canonical version in our library. If you were looking for a different hadith entirely, use the search bar to find it by text.

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#3838

#3839

Sunan an-Nasa'i

#3840

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Sunan an-Nasa'i #3839

The Book of Oaths and Vows

Sahih

The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.

أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ أَمْضَى وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

"Whoever swears an oath and says, 'If Allah wills,' then he has the choice: If he wishes, he may go ahead, and if he wishes he may not."

Narrated by It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah said:

Context

In this hadith, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ teaches that when someone swears an oath, adding 'If Allah wills' gives them the option to either fulfill the oath or not. This highlights the understanding of divine will and human agency, allowing for flexibility in commitments made under uncertain circumstances.

Modern Application

In daily life, this principle can be applied when making plans or commitments. By acknowledging that outcomes are ultimately in Allah's hands, individuals can approach their promises with a sense of humility and readiness to adapt if circumstances change.

Topics

This hadith is tagged with Divine Decree and Oaths and Vows because it emphasizes the relationship between human intentions and the overarching will of Allah.

Divine Decree Oaths and Vows