35/18. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3793 — Saying If Allah Wills in an Oath
Whoever Swears An Oath And Says: "If Allah Wills"
Saying InshaAllah in an Oath Without Breaking It
Sunan an-Nasai : 3793
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3793
أَخْبَرَنِي أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا حِبَّانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ فَاسْتَثْنَى فَإِنْ شَاءَ مَضَى وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ غَيْرَ حَنِثٍ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet said: "Whoever swears an oath and says: 'If Allah wills', then if he wishes he may go ahead, and if he wishes he may not, without having broken his oath."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3793In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 33English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3824
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3793
This hadith explains the effect of adding “if Allah wills” to an oath. A person who swears and makes this exception may then go ahead with the stated action or leave it without being counted as having broken the oath. The key point is the condition attached to the words. The oath is not presented as an independent guarantee of what will happen; it is linked to Allah’s will. The narration gives a clear answer for people searching about saying InshaAllah in an oath. It does not discuss every kind of promise or every phrase used in daily speech. Its teaching is specific: when the oath includes the stated exception, the person may proceed or refrain without committing hanth, meaning the oath is not treated as broken. The wording encourages careful, humble speech when speaking about future actions.
What we learn from this hadith
- Linking an oath to Allah’s will changes how the oath is treated.
- The person may proceed with the action or leave it.
- Leaving the action does not count as breaking the oath in this stated case.
- Future commitments should be spoken with awareness of Allah’s will.
