35/41. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3843 — An Angry Vow Is Not Binding
Expiation For Vows
Angry Vows: A Clear Hadith on Expiation
Sunan an-Nasai : 3843
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3843
أَخْبَرَنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ مُوسَى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عِمْرَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ نَذْرَ فِي غَضَبٍ وَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ الْيَمِينِ " .
'Imran Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no vow at a moment of anger and its expiation is the expiation for an oath."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3843In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 83English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3874
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3843
This narration gives a short ruling about an angry vow. The Messenger of Allah says there is no vow at a moment of anger, and its expiation is the expiation for an oath. The hadith keeps the focus on two points: the condition in which the vow was made and the stated expiation. It does not praise acting on angry words. Instead, it shows that a vow formed in anger should not control a person as though it were a sound promise of obedience. People often search for whether a promise made in anger counts in Islam. This text answers in the language of vows and oath expiation, reminding the reader not to turn emotional speech into a reason for harmful action.
What we learn from this hadith
- A vow spoken in anger is not presented as a vow to fulfill.
- The hadith gives oath expiation as the stated response.
- Emotional words should not be used to justify later harm.
- The condition of anger matters in this narration.
