84/9. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 6718 — Do What Is Better
To say: “In sha’ Allah” while taking an oath
Oath Expiation Hadith: Do What Is Better
Sahih Bukhari : 6718
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 6718
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ بْنِ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ أَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ " وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ، مَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ ". ثُمَّ لَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، فَأُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثَةِ ذَوْدٍ، فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لاَ يُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ لَنَا، أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا فَحَمَلَنَا. فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ، إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا، إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي، وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ ".
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Narrated from:
I went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) along with a group of people from (the tribe of) Al-Ash`ari, asking for mounts. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, I will not give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to mount you on." We stayed there as long as Allah wished, and after that, some camels were brought to the Prophet and he ordered that we be given three camels.When we set out, some of us said to others, "Allah will not bless us, as we all went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) asking him for mounts, and although he had sworn that he would not give us mounts, he did give us." So we returned to the Prophet; and mentioned that to him. He said, "I have not provided you with mounts, but Allah has. By Allah, Allah willing, if I ever take an oath, and then see that another is better than the first, I make expiration for my (dissolved) oath, and do what is better and make expiration."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6718In-book reference : Book 84, Hadith 11USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 79, Hadith 709
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 6718
This hadith explains what to do when someone takes an oath, then later sees that another action is better. Abu Musa came with people asking the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for mounts. At first, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم swore that he would not give them mounts because he had nothing for them. Later, camels were brought, and he ordered that they be given three camels. The people worried about the oath and returned to ask him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that Allah had provided the mounts, and he stated that if he took an oath and later saw something better, he would make expiation for the oath and do what was better. This hadith is a key text on oath expiation and choosing the better action.
What we learn from this hadith
- An oath should not stop a person from doing what is better when expiation is made.
- The companions were careful about the Prophet’s oath.
- Provision is attributed to Allah in the Prophet’s response.
- The hadith teaches correction with responsibility.
