35/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3792 — Invalid Oaths and Family Ties
Oaths Concerning That Which One Does Not Possess
Oaths in Islam: No Sin or Cutting Family Ties
Sunan an-Nasai : 3792
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3792
أَخْبَرَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الأَخْنَسِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ نَذْرَ وَلاَ يَمِينَ فِيمَا لاَ تَمْلِكُ وَلاَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ وَلاَ قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ " .
'Amr bin Shu'aib Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow and no oath concerning that which one does not possess, nor to commit sin, nor to sever the ties of kinship."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3792In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 32English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3823
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3792
This hadith sets clear limits for vows and oaths in Islam. It states that there is no vow and no oath concerning something a person does not possess. It also rules out a vow or oath to commit sin or to sever family ties. The wording protects a believer from treating every spoken pledge as something that must be carried out, no matter what it contains. Ownership matters, because a person cannot bind what is not under his or her control. Right and wrong also matter, because an oath does not make sinful conduct acceptable. Family ties matter as well, because an oath cannot be used to justify cutting relatives off. The hadith therefore teaches that vows and oaths have moral boundaries. A promise involving sin, estrangement, or something not possessed does not become good merely because it was sworn.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not make vows or oaths about what you do not possess.
- An oath does not make a sinful act acceptable.
- An oath should not be used to sever family ties.
- The content of an oath must stay within clear moral limits.
