35/41. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3838 — Sinful Vows
Expiation For Vows
Vows, Disobedience, and Oath Expiation
Sunan an-Nasai : 3838
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3838
أَخْبَرَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْفَرْوِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو ضَمْرَةَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ نَذْرَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ وَكَفَّارَتُهَا كَفَّارَةُ الْيَمِينِ " .
A'isha Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow to commit an act of disobedience, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3838In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 78English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3869
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3838
This hadith teaches that a vow must not be used to support an act of disobedience. The Messenger of Allah said there is no vow in disobedience and that its expiation is the expiation for an oath. These words keep two matters together: the sinful act is not to be treated as a duty, yet the vow is not simply ignored without the response named in the narration. The text identifies the category of expiation but does not give its detailed steps. Its central lesson is easy to understand. A person's own promise does not override the line between obedience and disobedience. Someone searching for the Islamic ruling on a sinful vow can find both parts here: do not carry out the disobedient act, and apply the expiation associated with an oath.
What we learn from this hadith
- Personal vows do not make sinful actions acceptable.
- A vow involving disobedience is not to be carried out.
- The hadith names oath expiation for such a vow.
- The report does not detail the individual steps of expiation.
