1/61. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 138a — Perjury Over Property
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 for Property: Perjury and Allah’s Anger
Sahih Muslim : 138a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 138a
وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ يَقْتَطِعُ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ هُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " . قَالَ فَدَخَلَ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَقَالَ مَا يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالُوا كَذَا وَكَذَا . قَالَ صَدَقَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ كَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ أَرْضٌ بِالْيَمَنِ فَخَاصَمْتُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " هَلْ لَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ " . فَقُلْتُ لاَ . قَالَ " فَيَمِينُهُ " . قُلْتُ إِذًا يَحْلِفُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ يَقْتَطِعُ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ هُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " . فَنَزَلَتْ { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: He who perjured with a view to appropriating the property of a Muslim, and he is in fact a liar and would meet Allah in a state that He would be angry with him. He (the narrator) said: There came Ash'ath b. Qais and said (to the people): What does Abu Abdur-Rahman (the Kunya of Abdullah b. Umar) narrate to you? They replied: So and so. Upon this he remarked: Abu Abdur-Rahman told the truth. This (command) has been revealed in my case.There was a piece of land in Yemen over which I and another person had a claim. I brought the dispute with him to the Messenger of Allah (to decide) He (the Holy Prophet) said: Can you produce an evidence (in your support)? I said: No. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: (Then the decision would be made) on his oath. I said: He would readily take an oath. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) remarked: He who perjured for appropriating the wealth of a Muslim, whereas he is a liar, would meet Allah while He would be angry with him.This verse was then revealed:" Verily those who barter Allah's covenant and their oaths at a small price..." (iii 77).
[1] Al 'Imrân 3:77.Reference : Sahih Muslim 138aIn-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 262USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 1, Hadith 254
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 138a
This hadith about false oath for property describes a dispute over land and the danger of perjury. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever swears an oath to take the property of a Muslim while he is lying would meet Allah while He is angry with him. The narration then tells of Ash‘ath b. Qais, who said the command was revealed in his case. He had a land dispute in Yemen, lacked evidence, and the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the other party’s oath would be used. When Ash‘ath feared the man would readily swear, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم gave the warning. The Hadith teaches that legal process and oaths are serious, and lying for property is not a small matter.
What we learn from this hadith
- A false oath used to take Muslim property carries a severe warning.
- Evidence matters in disputes, and an oath may be used when evidence is absent.
- A person should fear Allah before swearing about property.
