26/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1639c — A Vow Does Not Necessarily Bring Good
The Prohibition Of Vows, And Confirmation That They Do Not Avert Anything
Hadith About Vows: Do Not Treat Them as a Way to Bring Good
Sahih Muslim : 1639c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1639c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَابْنُ بَشَّارٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ الْمُثَنَّى - حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُرَّةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ نَهَى عَنِ النَّذْرِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّهُ لاَ يَأْتِي بِخَيْرٍ وَإِنَّمَا يُسْتَخْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ الْبَخِيلِ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
Allah's Apostle (ﷺ) forbade (people) taking vows, and said: It does not (necessarily) bring good (in the form of substantial, and tangible results), but it is the meant whereby something is extracted from the miserly persons.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1639cIn-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 5USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 14, Hadith 4021
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1639c
This hadith about vows says that Allah’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade taking vows and said that a vow does not bring good in the stated sense; rather, it extracts something from the miserly person. The translation adds that this is about substantial and tangible results, so the explanation should stay with that idea. A vow is not presented as a method to make good outcomes happen. It may only make a reluctant person give what he was holding back. The report directs the believer away from conditional religion, where a person waits for an outcome before giving. It encourages a cleaner attitude: do good without treating a vow as a tool to force destiny.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade taking vows in this narration.
- A vow is not described as a source of tangible good outcomes.
- It may cause a miserly person to give something he held back.
- The hadith points toward sincere giving without bargaining.
