35/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3787 — Leave an Oath for a Better Choice
Expiation After Breaking An Oath
A Better Choice Can Be Taken After an Oath
Sunan an-Nasai : 3787
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3787
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا بَهْزُ بْنُ أَسَدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ رُفَيْعٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ تَمِيمَ بْنَ طَرَفَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَلْيَتْرُكْ يَمِينَهُ " .
`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 leave his oath.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3787In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 27English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3818
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3787
This hadith focuses on the central decision a person must make after an oath. If a better action becomes clear, the person should do what is better and leave the oath. The narration is brief, but its message is strong. An earlier statement should not force someone to stay with a course that is now seen as less good. The person is expected to recognize the better option and act on it. This is closely connected to the wider topic of breaking an oath in Islam and oath expiation, as stated in the related narrations in the same chapter. In this specific wording, the emphasis falls on leaving the oath and carrying out the better deed. It teaches flexibility with responsibility, and it warns against making an oath into a reason for refusing a better and more useful action.
What we learn from this hadith
- Choose the better action when it becomes clear.
- An oath may be left rather than used to support a poorer choice.
- The person should act, not merely recognize that another option is better.
- Past words should not become a reason to reject a better deed.
