35/39. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3830 — Oath Exception
Saying: "If Allah Wills"
InshaAllah in an Oath and the Choice to Proceed
Sunan an-Nasai : 3830
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3830
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ بِالْخِيَارِ إِنْ شَاءَ أَمْضَى وَإِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever swears an oath and says, 'If Allah wills,' then he has the choice: If he wishes, he may go ahead, and if he wishes he may not."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3830In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 70English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3861
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3830
This hadith explains the effect of saying 'If Allah wills' when making an oath. The Messenger of Allah said that the person then has a choice. If he wishes, he may go ahead with the action, and if he wishes, he may leave it. Unlike the shorter narrations that only mention an exception, this report spells out the choice in direct terms. Its main subject is saying InshaAllah in an oath, not ordinary casual plans. The narration teaches that the exact wording of an oath matters. By including the stated phrase, the speaker does not present the intended action as unconditional. For anyone searching whether a person can change an oath after saying InshaAllah, this hadith gives the answer found in its text: he may proceed, or he may choose not to proceed.
What we learn from this hadith
- An oath may be joined with the words 'If Allah wills.'
- The hadith says the person then has a choice.
- He may carry out the stated action.
- He may also leave the stated action.
