44/6. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 4462 — False Oaths and Worldly Self-Interest
Taking Oaths To Cheat In Selling
False Oaths in Trade and Selfish Dealings
Sunan an-Nasai : 4462
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 4462
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " ثَلاَثَةٌ لاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَلاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَيْهِمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَلاَ يُزَكِّيهِمْ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ رَجُلٌ عَلَى فَضْلِ مَاءٍ بِالطَّرِيقِ يَمْنَعُ ابْنَ السَّبِيلِ مِنْهُ وَرَجُلٌ بَايَعَ إِمَامًا لِدُنْيَا إِنْ أَعْطَاهُ مَا يُرِيدُ وَفَّى لَهُ وَإِنْ لَمْ يُعْطِهِ لَمْ يَفِ لَهُ وَرَجُلٌ سَاوَمَ رَجُلاً عَلَى سِلْعَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ فَحَلَفَ لَهُ بِاللَّهِ لَقَدْ أُعْطِيَ بِهَا كَذَا وَكَذَا فَصَدَّقَهُ الآخَرُ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "There are three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection, or will He look at them, or sanctify them and theirs will be a painful torment: A man who has surplus water when traveling but he withholds it from a wayfarer; a man who swears allegiance to an imam for worldly gains, and if he gives him what he wants he is loyal to him but if he does not give him anything he is not loyal to him: and a man who sells a man his product after 'Asr, swerving by Allah that he bought it for such and such a price, and the other believes him."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 4462In-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 4467
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 4462
This hadith names three people who face a painful warning on the Day of Resurrection. The first has extra water during travel but refuses it to a wayfarer. The second gives allegiance to a leader only for worldly benefit, remaining loyal when he receives what he wants and withdrawing loyalty when he does not. The third sells a product after ‘Asr and swears by Allah about the price he paid, causing the buyer to believe him. These examples share a pattern of selfish conduct and misuse of trust. The hadith about false oaths in trade shows that using Allah’s name to convince a buyer is not a small matter. It also teaches that access to needed water, loyalty, and honest sales should not be controlled only by personal gain.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not withhold surplus water from a traveler who needs it.
- Loyalty should not change only according to personal worldly gain.
- Do not use an oath about a product’s price to mislead a buyer.
- Misusing trust and Allah’s name carries a severe warning.
