35/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3785 — Better Action and Oath Expiation
Expiation After Breaking An Oath
Do the Better Action and Make Oath Expiation
Sunan an-Nasai : 3785
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3785
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مُرَّةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو، مَوْلَى الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ " .
`Adi bin Hatim Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better and offer expiation for his oath.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3785In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 25English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3816
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3785
This hadith gives a balanced answer for a person who has made an oath and later sees a better option. The person is told to do what is better and to offer expiation for the oath. Both parts matter. Choosing the better action shows that a past statement should not force someone to continue with a poorer choice. Offering expiation shows that the oath is still taken seriously. The wording is useful for anyone asking about kaffarah for a broken oath because it does not separate moral correction from personal responsibility. A believer should not say, “I made an oath, so I must ignore the better path.” Nor should the believer leave the oath without addressing it. The hadith teaches a clean response: take the better course and fulfill the expiation connected to the oath.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do the action that is better when it becomes clear.
- Offer expiation for the oath that is left.
- Do not use an oath to defend a less suitable decision.
- Moral correction and responsibility should remain together.
