20/8. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1533 — Do Not Swear by Fathers
What Has Been Related About It being Disliked To Swear By Other Than Allah
Hadith About Not Swearing by Fathers
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1533
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1533
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَمِعَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عُمَرَ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَأَبِي وَأَبِي فَقَالَ " أَلاَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ " . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا حَلَفْتُ بِهِ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ ذَاكِرًا وَلاَ آثِرًا . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ ثَابِتِ بْنِ الضَّحَّاكِ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَقُتَيْلَةَ وَعَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عُمَرَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى قَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ وَلاَ آثِرًا . أَىْ لَمْ آثُرْهُ عَنْ غَيْرِي يَقُولُ لَمْ أَذْكُرْهُ عَنْ غَيْرِي .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) Heard 'Umar Saying: "By My Father, By My Father!" So He Said: "Verily Allah Prohibits You From Swearing By Your Father." So 'Umar Said: "By Allah I Did Not Swear By Him After That, Neither Intentionally Nor In Narrating."
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1533In-book reference : Book 20, Hadith 11English translation : Vol. 3, Book 18, Hadith 1533
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1533
This hadith about not swearing by fathers shows how the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم corrected a common form of speech. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم heard Umar saying by my father, by my father. He then said that Allah prohibits people from swearing by their fathers. Umar responded by saying that, by Allah, he did not swear by his father after that, neither intentionally nor when narrating from others. The hadith is powerful because it shows both the correction and the response. Umar did not argue or delay. He left the wording after the Prophet’s instruction. The core teaching is about keeping oaths connected to Allah, not to family honor or inherited speech habits.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prohibited swearing by fathers.
- Umar stopped using that oath after hearing the instruction.
- The hadith shows quick acceptance of prophetic correction.
- Oaths should not be built on family names.
