35/15. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3780 — Oath Expiation and Choosing Better
Expiation Before Breaking An Oath
Oath Expiation in Islam: Choose What Is Better
Sunan an-Nasai : 3780
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3780
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ غَيْلاَنَ بْنِ جَرِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ " وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ " . ثُمَّ لَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثِ ذَوْدٍ فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لاَ يُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا . قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ " مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ " .
Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Narrated from:
I came to the Messenger of Allah with a group of the Ash'ari people and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: 'By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride and I have nothing to give you to ride.' We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be given three fine-looking camels. When we left, we said to one another: 'We came to the Messenger of Allah to ask him for animals to ride, and he swore by Allah that he would not give us anything to ride, then he gave us something.'"Abu Musa said: "We came to the Prophet and told him about that. He said: 'I did not give you animals to ride, rather Allah gave you them to ride. By Allah, I do not swear an oath and then see something better than it, but I offer expiation for my oath and do that which is better.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3780In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 20English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3811
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3780
This hadith explains oath expiation through a clear event. Abu Musa and a group asked the Messenger of Allah for riding animals. At first, he had nothing to give and swore that he could not provide mounts. Later, camels became available, and he ordered that they receive three good camels. When they worried about the earlier oath, he explained that Allah was the One who had provided the means. He then stated the main rule found in the narration: when a person swears an oath but later sees that another action is better, the person should offer expiation for the oath and do what is better. The message is not to hold onto an oath when a better choice becomes clear. It also teaches believers to see provision as coming from Allah, even when it reaches them through people.
What we learn from this hadith
- A changed situation may reveal a better course of action.
- An oath should be expiated when one leaves it to do what is better.
- Provision should be credited to Allah, even when people deliver it.
- Concerns about an oath should be addressed openly rather than ignored.
