20/6. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1530 — Choose Better After an Oath
What Has Been Related About The Atonement Before The Violation
Hadith About Breaking an Oath for Something Better
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1530
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1530
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَلْيُكَفِّرْ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَلْيَفْعَلْ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ أَنَّ الْكَفَّارَةَ قَبْلَ الْحِنْثِ تُجْزِئُ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَأَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ . وَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ لاَ يُكَفِّرُ إِلاَّ بَعْدَ الْحِنْثِ . قَالَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ إِنْ كَفَّرَ بَعْدَ الْحِنْثِ أَحَبُّ إِلَىَّ وَإِنْ كَفَّرَ قَبْلَ الْحِنْثِ أَجْزَأَهُ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Takes An Oath, And Then He Sees That Something Else Is Better Than It, Then He Should Make Atonement For His Oath And Then Do It."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1530In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 8English translation : Vol. 3, Book 18, Hadith 1530
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1530
This hadith about breaking an oath for something better gives a clear way to act when a person has sworn but later sees a better choice. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said whoever takes an oath and then sees that something else is better than it should make atonement for his oath and then do it. The hadith does not praise careless oaths. It teaches that a person should not hold on to an oath when a better course becomes clear. At the same time, the oath is not ignored; kaffarah is mentioned. So the text balances respect for one’s words with choosing what is better. Abu Isa also records scholarly discussion about the timing of kaffarah after the narration.
What we learn from this hadith
- An oath should be treated seriously.
- If a better option appears, the better option may be chosen.
- The hadith mentions atonement for the oath.
- A person should not use an oath to block a better action.
