1/61. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 137a — False Oaths and Muslim Rights
Warning of the Fire for the one who swears a false oath in order to unlawfully take the right of another muslim
Hadith About False Oath: Taking a Muslim’s Right Is Serious
Sahih Muslim : 137a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 137a
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ، - قَالَ ابْنُ أَيُّوبَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، - قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَلاَءُ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ مَوْلَى الْحُرَقَةِ - عَنْ مَعْبَدِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ السَّلَمِيِّ، عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ اقْتَطَعَ حَقَّ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ بِيَمِينِهِ فَقَدْ أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ النَّارَ وَحَرَّمَ عَلَيْهِ الْجَنَّةَ " . فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ وَإِنْ كَانَ شَيْئًا يَسِيرًا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " وَإِنْ قَضِيبًا مِنْ أَرَاكٍ " .
Abu Umamah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: He who appropriated the right of a Muslim by (swearing a false) oath, Allah would make Hell-fire necessary for him and would declare Paradise forbidden for him. A person said to him: Messenger of Allah, even if it is something insignificant? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: (Yes) even if it is the twig of the arak tree.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 137aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 260USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 252
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 137a
This hadith about false oath gives a strong warning about taking the right of a Muslim through an oath. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever appropriates the right of a Muslim by his oath faces a severe warning from Allah. A man then asked whether this applies even if the thing is small. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم answered yes, even if it is a twig of the arak tree. The Hadith makes the point very plain: a false oath is not made small by the small value of the item. The issue is taking another person’s right through a lie. For anyone searching false oath in Islam, this narration teaches honesty, fear of Allah, and respect for people’s rights.
What we learn from this hadith
- Taking a Muslim’s right through an oath is treated as a grave sin in this Hadith.
- A small item does not make a false oath safe or acceptable.
- Honesty matters even when the disputed thing looks minor.
