False Witness and Oaths
Total Hadiths 31
Authentic Hadiths on False Witness and Oaths in Islam
According to these authentic narrations, Islam places a strict emphasis on honesty and legal integrity when handling claims or disputes. The Prophet taught that falsely swearing an oath to unlawfully take someone else's wealth is a severe sin that leads to Hellfire and bars a person from entering Paradise, even if the stolen object is as small as a minor tree twig. To prevent chaotic or false claims over people's blood and property, Islamic guidance establishes that the burden of taking an oath falls upon the defendant. These teachings warn us that sacrificing truth for small worldly gains ruins one's portion in the Hereafter, highlighting how vital upright testimony and accountability are in daily life.
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ ابْنِ الْهَادِ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " لاَ تَجُوزُ شَهَادَةُ بَدَوِيٍّ عَلَى صَاحِبِ قَرْيَةٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “The testimony of a Bedouin against a town-dweller is not permissible.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2367In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 60English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2367
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، - الْمَعْنَى وَاحِدٌ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " الْيَمِينُ عَلَى مَا يُصَدِّقُكَ بِهِ صَاحِبُكَ " . وَقَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ " عَلَى مَا صَدَّقَكَ عَلَيْهِ صَاحِبُكَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ حَدِيثِ هُشَيْمٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ . وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ أَبِي صَالِحٍ هُوَ أَخُو سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ وَبِهِ يَقُولُ أَحْمَدُ وَإِسْحَاقُ . وَرُوِيَ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ النَّخَعِيِّ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِذَا كَانَ الْمُسْتَحْلِفُ ظَالِمًا فَالنِّيَّةُ نِيَّةُ الْحَالِفِ وَإِذَا كَانَ الْمُسْتَحْلِفُ مَظْلُومًا فَالنِّيَّةُ نِيَّةُ الَّذِي اسْتَحْلَفَ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The Oath Is Based Upon What Will Make Your Companion Believe You.” [Qutaibah (One Of The Narrators) Said: “ What Will Make You Believed By Your Companion”]
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1354In-book reference : Book 15, Hadith 34English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 1354
حَدَّثَنَا حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى الْمِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَوْ يُعْطَى النَّاسُ بِدَعْوَاهُمُ ادَّعَى نَاسٌ دِمَاءَ رِجَالٍ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ وَلَكِنِ الْيَمِينُ عَلَى الْمُدَّعَى عَلَيْهِ " .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “If the people were given what they claimed, some would have claimed the lives and property of men. But the one the claim is made against is obliged to swear an oath.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2321In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 14English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2321
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَاصِمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ زَيْدٍ الْعُمَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي الْمُثَنَّى بْنُ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ مَطَرٍ الْوَرَّاقِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَعْنَاهُ قَالَ " وَمَنْ أَعَانَ عَلَى خُصُومَةٍ بِظُلْمٍ فَقَدْ بَاءَ بِغَضَبٍ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ " .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The tradition mentioned above has also been transmitted by Ibn 'Umar from the Prophet (ﷺ) through different chain of narrators to the same effect. In this version he also said: "He who assists in a dispute unjustly deserves the anger of Allah, Most High.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 3598In-book reference : Book 25, Hadith 28English translation : Book 24, Hadith 3591
حَدَّثَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْفُرَاتِ، عَنْ مُحَارِبِ بْنِ دِثَارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم {لَنْ تَزُولَ قَدَمُ شَاهِدِ الزُّورِ حَتَّى يُوجِبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ النَّارَ}.
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The one who bears false witness will not move away (on the Day of Resurrection) until Allah condemns him to Hell.' ”
[1] Al-Hajj 22:30-31.Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2373In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 66English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2373
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، وَالأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ، يَقْتَطِعُ مَالاً وَهْوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ، إِلاَّ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ". فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ. فَجَاءَ الأَشْعَثُ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ يُحَدِّثُهُمْ فَقَالَ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ وَفِي رَجُلٍ خَاصَمْتُهُ فِي بِئْرٍ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَلَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ ". قُلْتُ لاَ. قَالَ " فَلْيَحْلِفْ ". قُلْتُ إِذًا يَحْلِفُ. فَنَزَلَتْ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ.
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If somebody on the demand of a judge takes an oath to grab (a Muslim's) property and he is liar in it, he will meet Allah Who will be angry with him". So Allah revealed,:-- 'Verily! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths..' (3.77) 'Al- Ashath came while `Abdullah was narrating (this) to the people. Al-Ashath said, "This verse was revealed regarding me and another man with whom I had a quarrel about a well. The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to me), "Do you have any evidence?' I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Let your opponent take an oath.' I said: I am sure he would take a (false) oath." Thereupon it was revealed: 'Verily! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant....' (3.77) (See Hadith No. 72, Vol 6).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7183, 7184In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 294
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، وَالأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، قَالَ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ يَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ، يَقْتَطِعُ مَالاً وَهْوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ، إِلاَّ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ". فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ. فَجَاءَ الأَشْعَثُ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ يُحَدِّثُهُمْ فَقَالَ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ وَفِي رَجُلٍ خَاصَمْتُهُ فِي بِئْرٍ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَلَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ ". قُلْتُ لاَ. قَالَ " فَلْيَحْلِفْ ". قُلْتُ إِذًا يَحْلِفُ. فَنَزَلَتْ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ} الآيَةَ.
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If somebody on the demand of a judge takes an oath to grab (a Muslim's) property and he is liar in it, he will meet Allah Who will be angry with him". So Allah revealed,:-- 'Verily! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths..' (3.77) 'Al- Ashath came while `Abdullah was narrating (this) to the people. Al-Ashath said, "This verse was revealed regarding me and another man with whom I had a quarrel about a well. The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to me), "Do you have any evidence?' I replied, 'No.' He said, 'Let your opponent take an oath.' I said: I am sure he would take a (false) oath." Thereupon it was revealed: 'Verily! those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant....' (3.77) (See Hadith No. 72, Vol 6).
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 7183, 7184In-book reference : Book 93, Hadith 46USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 9, Book 89, Hadith 294
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا صَفْوَانُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمُ بْنُ هَاشِمٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نِسْطَاسٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ بِيَمِينٍ آثِمَةٍ عِنْدَ مِنْبَرِي هَذَا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَوْ عَلَى سِوَاكٍ أَخْضَرَ " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever swears a false oath near this pulpit of mine, let him take his place in Hell, even if it is for a green twig.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2325In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 18English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2325
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ، أَنْبَأَنَا عَامِرٌ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ لِيَهُودِيَّيْنِ " نَشَدْتُكُمَا بِاللَّهِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ عَلَى مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to two Jews: “Swear by Allah Who sent the Tawrah down to Musa, peace be upon him.”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2328In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2328
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ طَرِيفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو خَالِدٍ الأَحْمَرُ، عَنْ مُجَالِدٍ، عَنْ عَامِرٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَجَازَ شَهَادَةَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ بَعْضِهِمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) allowed the People of the Book to testify against one another.
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 2374In-book reference : Book 13, Hadith 67English translation : Vol. 3, Book 13, Hadith 2374
