27/3. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1651b — Leave an Oath for Better
It is recommended for the one who swears an oath then sees that something else is better than it; To do that which is better and offer expiation for his oath
Hadith About Leaving an Oath When Something Better Appears
Sahih Muslim : 1651b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1651b
وَحَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ رُفَيْعٍ، عَنْ تَمِيمِ بْنِ طَرَفَةَ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَلْيَتْرُكْ يَمِينَهُ " .
`Adi bin Hatim Narrated from:
Adi b. Hatim reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who took an oath, but he found something else better than that, should do that which is better and break his oath.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1651bIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 23USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4057
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1651b
This narration from Adi b. Hatim is a direct hadith about leaving an oath for something better. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever takes an oath and then sees something better than it should do the better thing and leave his oath. The wording is simple, and it should be kept simple in explanation. It does not give a full story here. It gives the principle: do not let an oath keep you tied to a lesser action when a better one is clear. For search terms like hadith about breaking an oath, leave your oath hadith, and do the better thing hadith, this text is very direct. The lesson is about choosing better conduct while taking the oath seriously.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should choose the better action when it becomes clear.
- The hadith says to leave the oath in that case.
- The wording gives a principle without adding a separate story.
- The text keeps better conduct at the center of the decision.
