35/16. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3789 — Do Better and Expiate Your Oath
Expiation After Breaking An Oath
Choose the Better Path After Swearing an Oath
Sunan an-Nasai : 3789
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3789
أَخْبَرَنَا زِيَادُ بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، وَيُونُسُ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا آلَيْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتَ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَأْتِ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ " .
'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah Narrated from:
The Prophet said to me: 'If you swear an oath, and you see something that is better, then do that which is better and offer expiation for your oath.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3789In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 29English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3820
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3789
This hadith gives personal and direct guidance from the Prophet to 'Abdur-Rahman bin Samurah. If he swore an oath and then saw something better, he was to do the better thing and offer expiation for the oath. The wording makes the response easy to understand. First, recognize honestly that another option is better. Second, carry out that better action. Third, fulfill the responsibility of oath expiation. The narration does not praise staying with a decision merely because it was made earlier. It also does not allow the oath to be ignored without kaffarah. This balance is the heart of the hadith. People searching for what to do after breaking an oath in Islam can see a clear principle here: correct the course when a better path appears, while still honoring the duty connected to the oath.
What we learn from this hadith
- Recognize when a different action is better.
- Carry out the better action rather than staying with the former choice.
- Offer expiation for the oath.
- Changing course can be responsible when it is done for what is better.
