35/26. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3805 — Do Not Make Vows to Change Qadar
A Vow Is A Means Of Taking Wealth From The Miserly
Do Not Make Vows: A Hadith About Vows and Qadar
Sunan an-Nasai : 3805
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3805
أَخْبَرَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ تَنْذِرُوا فَإِنَّ النَّذْرَ لاَ يُغْنِي مِنَ الْقَدَرِ شَيْئًا وَإِنَّمَا يُسْتَخْرَجُ بِهِ مِنَ الْبَخِيلِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet said: "Do not make vows, for a vow does not have any impact on the Qadar. Rather it is just a means of taking wealth from the miserly."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3805In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 45English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3836
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3805
This narration begins with a direct instruction from the Prophet: do not make vows. He explains the reason by saying that a vow has no impact on qadar, or divine decree. The vow does not change what has been decided. The hadith then adds that it is a means of taking wealth from a miserly person. This may describe someone who would not give freely but becomes bound by his own vow. The hadith about vows and qadar therefore corrects two problems at once. It rejects the idea that a vow can alter destiny, and it exposes reluctance in giving. The message is easy to understand: do not rely on vows to influence outcomes, and do not make generosity depend on a condition that you place upon yourself.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet directly instructed people not to make vows.
- A vow has no impact on divine decree.
- A vow may cause a reluctant person to spend.
- Generosity should not depend on trying to influence an outcome.
