83/26. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6693 — The Limits of Making Vows
To fulfil one's vow
وَقَوْلِهِ: {يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ}.
Hadith About the Limits of Making Vows
Sahih Bukhari : 6693
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6693
حَدَّثَنَا خَلاَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ النَّذْرِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ لاَ يَرُدُّ شَيْئًا، وَلَكِنَّهُ يُسْتَخْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ الْبَخِيلِ ".
`Abdullah bin `Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the making of vows and said, "It (a vow) does not prevent anything (that has to take place), but the property of a miser is spent (taken out) with it."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6693In-book reference : Book 83, Hadith 70USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 78, Hadith 684
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6693
This hadith about making vows gives a direct warning. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade the making of vows and explained why: a vow does not prevent anything that has to happen. It does not block a decree, remove an event, or force a person’s wish to come true. The narration also says that through a vow, the property of a miser is spent. This means the vow may push a stingy person to give what he did not want to give before. The hadith teaches Muslims to avoid using vows as a way to gain control over the future. Obedience, charity, and trust in Allah should come from sincerity.
What we learn from this hadith
- Vows do not prevent what is already decreed to happen.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم discouraged making vows.
- A vow may cause a miser to spend from his property.
- A believer should obey Allah without trying to bargain through vows.
