35/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3788 — Oaths and Ties of Kinship
Expiation After Breaking An Oath
Oath Expiation and Maintaining Family Ties
Sunan an-Nasai : 3788
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3788
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزَّعْرَاءِ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ أَبِي الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ ابْنَ عَمٍّ لِي أَتَيْتُهُ أَسْأَلُهُ فَلاَ يُعْطِينِي وَلاَ يَصِلُنِي ثُمَّ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَىَّ فَيَأْتِينِي فَيَسْأَلُنِي وَقَدْ حَلَفْتُ أَنْ لاَ أُعْطِيَهُ وَلاَ أَصِلَهُ فَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ آتِيَ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَأُكَفِّرَ عَنْ يَمِينِي .
Abu Al-Ahwas Narrated from:
It was narrated from Abu Al-Ahwas that his father said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I have a cousin, and I come to him and ask him (for help) but he does not give me anything, and he does not uphold the ties of kinship with me. Then, when he needs me, he comes to me and asks me (for help). I swore that I would not give him anything, nor uphold the ties of kinship with him.' He commanded me to do that which is better and to offer expiation for my oath."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3788In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 28English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3819
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3788
This hadith applies the teaching of oath expiation to family ties. A man described a cousin who did not help him or maintain kinship, but later came asking for help. Because of that hurt, the man had sworn not to give him anything and not to uphold the family relationship. The Prophet commanded him to do what was better and to offer expiation for his oath. The text therefore shows that resentment should not be protected by an oath when maintaining kinship is the better action. It does not deny the cousin’s poor behavior; that behavior is clearly mentioned. Yet the answer is not to copy the same neglect. For anyone searching for a hadith about family ties and broken oaths, the lesson is practical: leave the harmful response, do the better act, and deal properly with the oath through expiation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Another person's neglect does not make cutting family ties the better response.
- An oath should not be used to continue a harmful family decision.
- Choose the better act of support and kinship when asked.
- Offer expiation for the oath that is broken.
