65/3.3. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4549 — False Oath and Property Rights
"Verily, those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter (Paradise)... (till) ... and they shall have a painful torment." (V.3 -77)
{أَلِيمٌ} مُؤْلِمٌ مُوجِعٌ مِنَ الأَلَمِ، وَهْوَ فِي مَوْضِعِ مُفْعِلٍ.
Hadith About False Oath and Taking Property Unlawfully
Sahih Bukhari : 4549
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 4549
حَدَّثَنَا حَجَّاجُ بْنُ مِنْهَالٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ يَمِينَ صَبْرٍ لِيَقْتَطِعَ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ". فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَصْدِيقَ ذَلِكَ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً أُولَئِكَ لاَ خَلاَقَ لَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ. قَالَ فَدَخَلَ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ وَقَالَ مَا يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قُلْنَا كَذَا وَكَذَا. قَالَ فِيَّ أُنْزِلَتْ كَانَتْ لِي بِئْرٌ فِي أَرْضِ ابْنِ عَمٍّ لِي قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " بَيِّنَتُكَ أَوْ يَمِينُهُ " فَقُلْتُ إِذًا يَحْلِفَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ يَقْتَطِعُ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ وَهْوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانٌ ".
Abu Wail Narrated from:
`Abdullah bin Masud said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever takes an oath when asked to do so, in which he may deprive a Muslim of his property unlawfully, will meet Allah Who will be angry with him.' So Allah revealed in confirmation of this statement:--"Verily! Those who Purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter..." (3.77)Then entered Al-Ash'ath bin Qais and said, "What is Abu `Abdur-Rahman narrating to you?" We replied, 'So-and-so." Al-Ash'ath said, "This Verse was revealed in my connection. I had a well in the land of my cousin (and he denied my, possessing it). On that the Prophet (ﷺ) said to me, 'Either you bring forward a proof or he (i.e. your cousin) takes an oath (to confirm his claim)' I said, 'I am sure he would take a (false) oath, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ).' He said, 'If somebody takes an oath when asked to do so through which he may deprive a Muslim of his property (unlawfully) and he is a liar in his oath, he will meet Allah Who will be angry with him.' "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4549, 4550In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 72USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 72
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4549
This Hadith about false oath gives a serious warning about property rights. Abdullah bin Masud رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said whoever takes an oath by which he deprives a Muslim of property unlawfully will meet Allah while Allah is angry with him. The narration then mentions the verse about those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah’s covenant and their oaths. Al-Ashath bin Qais then explained that the verse was revealed in connection with his case about a well. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him that he needed proof, or the other man would take an oath. The Hadith teaches that oaths are not a tool for cheating people or taking what is not yours.
What we learn from this hadith
- A false oath used to take property is a grave wrong.
- Claims about property require proof or a legal oath.
- Small worldly gain is not worth breaking trust with Allah.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم warned strongly against lying in an oath.
