Oaths and Allah’s Will
Total Hadiths 20
Authentic Hadiths on Oaths and Remembering Allah’s Will
These authentic hadiths highlight a vital Islamic lesson regarding oaths, vows, and the ultimate dependency of human plans on Allah’s divine will. Through multiple narrations by Abu Huraira, the Prophet Muhammad details an event involving Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman). Solomon declared an intention to father many sons in a single night who would all grow up to become noble horsemen fighting for the sake of Allah. Although reminded by a companion or an angel to say 'Insha'Allah' (if Allah wills), Solomon forgot to say it. Consequently, his human plans did not unfold as desired, resulting in only one wife giving birth to an incomplete child. According to Islamic scholars, these texts emphasize that human ability is bound by divine decree. Saying 'Insha'Allah' ensures a believer's reliance on God, protects them from breaking their unintended oaths, and brings success to their righteous endeavors.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى تِسْعِينَ امْرَأَةً، كُلُّهُنَّ تَأْتِي بِفَارِسٍ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. فَلَمْ يَقُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. فَطَافَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جَمِيعًا، فَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ، جَاءَتْ بِشِقِّ رَجُلٍ، وَايْمُ الَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ. لَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فُرْسَانًا أَجْمَعُونَ ".
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "(The Prophet) Solomon once said, 'Tonight I will sleep with ninety women, each of whom will bring forth a (would-be) cavalier who will fight in Allah's Cause." On this, his companion said to him, "Say: Allah willing!" But he did not say Allah willing. Solomon then slept with all the women, but none of them became pregnant but one woman who later delivered a halfman. By Him in Whose Hand Muhammad's soul is, if he (Solomon) had said, 'Allah willing' (all his wives would have brought forth boys) and they would have fought in Allah's Cause as cavaliers. "
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 6639In-book reference : Book 83, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 8, Book 78, Hadith 634
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، وَأَبُو كَامِلٍ الْجَحْدَرِيُّ فُضَيْلُ بْنُ حُسَيْنٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي الرَّبِيعِ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ زَيْدٍ - حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ لِسُلَيْمَانَ سِتُّونَ امْرَأَةً فَقَالَ لأَطُوفَنَّ عَلَيْهِنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ فَتَحْمِلُ كُلُّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ فَتَلِدُ كُلُّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ غُلاَمًا فَارِسًا يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ وَاحِدَةٌ فَوَلَدَتْ نِصْفَ إِنْسَانٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ كَانَ اسْتَثْنَى لَوَلَدَتْ كُلُّ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ غُلاَمًا فَارِسًا يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
(Hadrat) Sulaiman had sixty wives. He (one day) said: I will visit each one of them every night, and every one of them will become pregnant and give birth to a male child who will be a horseman and fight in the cause of Allah. But (it so happened) that none of them became pregnant except one, but she gave birth to an incomplete child. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Had he said Insha' Allah (if God so wills), then every one of them would have given birth to a child who would have been a horseman and fought in the cause of Allah
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1654aIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 32USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4066
وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، وَابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ أَبِي عُمَرَ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حُجَيْرٍ، عَنْ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ امْرَأَةً كُلُّهُنَّ تَأْتِي بِغُلاَمٍ يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ أَوِ الْمَلَكُ قُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَلَمْ يَقُلْ وَنَسِيَ . فَلَمْ تَأْتِ وَاحِدَةٌ مِنْ نِسَائِهِ إِلاَّ وَاحِدَةٌ جَاءَتْ بِشِقِّ غُلاَمٍ " . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَلَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . لَمْ يَحْنَثْ وَكَانَ دَرَكًا لَهُ فِي حَاجَتِهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Sulaiman b. Dawud, the Messenger of Allah, observed: I will have an intercourse with seventy wives during the night; all of them will give birth to a male child who will fight in the cause of Allah. His companion or the ang I said to him: Say," If God wills." But he (Hadrat Sulaimin) did not say so, and he forgot it. And none of his wives gave birth to a child, but one who gave birth to a premature child. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Had he said Insha' Allah (if God so will). he would not have failed and his desire would have been materialised.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1654bIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 33USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4067
وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَهُ أَوْ نَحْوَهُ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Huraira reported this hadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) through another chain of transmitters.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1654cIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 34USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4068
وَحَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ بْنُ هَمَّامٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأُطِيفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ امْرَأَةً تَلِدُ كُلُّ امْرَأَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ غُلاَمًا يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ . فَقِيلَ لَهُ قُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَلَمْ يَقُلْ . فَأَطَافَ بِهِنَّ فَلَمْ تَلِدْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ نِصْفَ إِنْسَانٍ . قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . لَمْ يَحْنَثْ وَكَانَ دَرَكًا لِحَاجَتِهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Sulaiman b. Dawud said: I will certainly have intercourse with seventy wives during the night, and every wife amongst them will give birth to a child, who will fight in the cause of Allah. It was said to him: Say:" Insha' Allah" (God willing), but he did not say so and forgot it. He went round them but none of them give birth to a child except one woman and that too was an incomplete person. Upon this Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: If he had said" Insha' Allah." he would not have failed, and his desire must have been fulfilled.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1654dIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 35USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4069
وَحَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ، حَدَّثَنِي وَرْقَاءُ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى تِسْعِينَ امْرَأَةً كُلُّهَا تَأْتِي بِفَارِسٍ يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ قُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَلَمْ يَقُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَطَافَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جَمِيعًا فَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فَجَاءَتْ بِشِقِّ رَجُلٍ وَايْمُ الَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . لَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فُرْسَانًا أَجْمَعُونَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Sulaiman b. Dawud (once) said: I will go round in the night to my ninety wives, and every one of them will give birth to a child (who will grow up) as a horseman and fight in the cause of Allah His companions said to him: Say" Insha' Allah." but he did not say Inshii' Allah. He went round all of them but none of them became pregnant but one, and she gave birth to a premature child. And by Him in Whose hand is the life of Muhammad, if he had said, Insha' Allah (his wives would have given birth to the children who would all have grown up into horsemen and fought in the way of Allah).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1654eIn-book reference : Book 27, Hadith 36USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 15, Hadith 4070
أَخْبَرَنَا عِمْرَانُ بْنُ بَكَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، مِمَّا حَدَّثَهُ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجُ، مِمَّا ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يُحَدِّثُ بِهِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى تِسْعِينَ امْرَأَةً كُلُّهُنَّ يَأْتِي بِفَارِسٍ يُجَاهِدُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَلَمْ يَقُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَطَافَ عَلَيْهِنَّ جَمِيعًا فَلَمْ تَحْمِلْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ جَاءَتْ بِشِقِّ رَجُلٍ وَايْمُ الَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فُرْسَانًا أَجْمَعِينَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "Sulaiman bin Dawud said: 'Tonight I will go around ninety women, each of whom will bear a horseman who will perform Jihad in the cause of Allah.' His companion said to him: 'If Allah wills.' But he did not say: 'If Allah wills.' Then he went around to them all, but none of them got pregnant except a woman who bore half a man. By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! If he had said, 'If Allah wills,' they would all have performed Jihad in the cause of Allah as horsemen."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3831In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 71English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3862
أَخْبَرَنَا نُوحُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَقَدِ اسْتَثْنَى " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever swears an oath and says: If Allah wills, then he has made an exception."'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3855In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 95English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3886
أَخْبَرَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رَفَعَهُ " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى تِسْعِينَ امْرَأَةً تَلِدُ كُلُّ امْرَأَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ غُلاَمًا يُقَاتِلُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ قُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ . فَلَمْ يَقُلْ فَطَافَ بِهِنَّ فَلَمْ تَلِدْ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ نِصْفَ إِنْسَانٍ " . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمْ يَحْنَثْ وَكَانَ دَرَكًا لِحَاجَتِهِ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Sulaiman said: 'I will certainly go around to ninety women tonight, each of whom will bear a child who will fight in the cause of Allah.' It was said to him: 'Say: If Allah wills' but he did not say it. He went around to them but none of them bore a child except for one woman who bore half a person. The Messenger of Allah said: "If he had said: 'If Allah wills,' he would not have broken his vow, and this would have been a means to help him to get what he wanted."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3856In-book reference : Book 35, Hadith 96English translation : Vol. 4, Book 35, Hadith 3887
حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَقَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمْ يَحْنَثْ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى سَأَلْتُ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ هَذَا فَقَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ خَطَأٌ أَخْطَأَ فِيهِ عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ اخْتَصَرَهُ مِنْ حَدِيثِ مَعْمَرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " إِنَّ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ دَاوُدَ قَالَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى سَبْعِينَ امْرَأَةً تَلِدُ كُلُّ امْرَأَةٍ غُلاَمًا . فَطَافَ عَلَيْهِنَّ فَلَمْ تَلِدِ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْهُنَّ إِلاَّ امْرَأَةٌ نِصْفَ غُلاَمٍ " . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ قَالَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَكَانَ كَمَا قَالَ " . هَكَذَا رُوِيَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ بِطُولِهِ وَقَالَ " سَبْعِينَ امْرَأَةً " . وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مِنْ غَيْرِ وَجْهٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " قَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ لأَطُوفَنَّ اللَّيْلَةَ عَلَى مِائَةِ امْرَأَةٍ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Swears [About An Oath] And Says: 'If Allah Wills (Insha Allah), Then He Will Not Have Broken It."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1532In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 10English translation : Vol. 3, Book 18, Hadith 1532
