20/3. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1527 — Vows Beyond One’s Control
What Has Been Related About There Is No Vowing In That Over Which The Son Of Adam Has No Control
Hadith About Vowing What You Do Not Control
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1527
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1527
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الأَزْرَقُ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ الدَّسْتَوَائِيِّ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ الضَّحَّاكِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لَيْسَ عَلَى الْعَبْدِ نَذْرٌ فِيمَا لاَ يَمْلِكُ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Thabit bin Ad-Dahhak Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "It Is Not For A Person To Vow About That Over Which He Has No Control."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1527In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 5English translation : Vol. 3, Book 18, Hadith 1527
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1527
This hadith about vowing what you do not control gives a short and practical limit. Thabit bin Adh-Dahhak narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said it is not for a person to vow about what he has no control over. The wording teaches that vows are not empty claims. A person should not bind himself to something he does not own, possess, or control. The hadith keeps the focus on personal ability and responsibility. It does not give examples in the translated wording, so the explanation should not invent cases. The safe lesson is that a vow must be connected to something within a person’s reach. Abu Isa graded this hadith hasan sahih in the text that follows the narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- A person should not vow about what he does not control.
- Vows are tied to real ability and responsibility.
- The hadith discourages careless promises.
- A vow should not be built on something outside one’s possession or power.
