35/28. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3808 — When a Vow Must Not Be Followed
Vows To Commit Sin
When to Fulfill a Vow: Obedience to Allah Comes First
Sunan an-Nasai : 3808
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3808
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَنْ نَذَرَ أَنْ يُطِيعَ اللَّهَ فَلْيُطِعْهُ وَمَنْ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَعْصِيَ اللَّهَ فَلاَ يَعْصِهِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3808In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 48English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3839
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3808
In this narration, Aishah says that she heard the Messenger of Allah explain when a vow should and should not be followed. A person who vows to obey Allah should obey Him. A person who vows to disobey Allah must not disobey Him. The hadith gives a firm test for any vow: does it call for obedience or disobedience? A vow is not above Allah's command, and it cannot be used to justify an act of sin. At the same time, the narration tells the person who has vowed an act of obedience to carry it out. For readers searching for when to fulfill a vow in Islam, the answer in this text is direct. Fulfill what is obedience, and refuse what is disobedience.
What we learn from this hadith
- Vows of obedience are to be fulfilled.
- Vows of disobedience are not to be followed.
- A vow cannot be used as an excuse for sin.
- Every vow should be measured by obedience to Allah.
