35/5. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3767 — Obeying the Rule of Oaths
Swearing By One's Forefathers
Do Not Swear by Forefathers: Umar's Immediate Response
Sunan an-Nasai : 3767
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3767
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، وَسَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ " . قَالَ عُمَرُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا حَلَفْتُ بِهَا بَعْدُ ذَاكِرًا وَلاَ آثِرًا .
'Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet said: "Allah forbids you to swear by your forefathers." 'Umar said: "By Allah, I never swore by them again, whether saying it for myself or reporting of others."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3767In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3798
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3767
This narration repeats an important teaching about oaths and adds Umar's personal response. The Prophet said that Allah forbids people to swear by their forefathers. Umar then swore by Allah that he never used that wording again, either from himself or while reporting it from another person. The hadith about swearing by forefathers therefore includes a clear example of leaving a forbidden habit. Umar's answer was not only verbal agreement. His later speech changed. This makes the report easy to apply at a personal level: when a form of speech is corrected by the Prophet, a believer should stop using it rather than keep it as a casual expression. The narration stays focused on oath wording and on the care Umar took not to return to the old phrase.
What we learn from this hadith
- Swearing by forefathers is forbidden in the Prophet's statement.
- Umar responded by leaving the expression completely.
- He also avoided repeating the forbidden wording from others.
- Correct knowledge should be followed by changed behavior.
