47/4. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 2996 — False Oath and Property Rights
Regarding Surat Al 'Imran
Hadith About False Oath to Take Someone's Property
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 2996
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 2996
حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ شَقِيقِ بْنِ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ هُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ لِيَقْتَطِعَ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " . فَقَالَ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فِيَّ وَاللَّهِ كَانَ ذَلِكَ كَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ مِنَ الْيَهُودِ أَرْضٌ فَجَحَدَنِي فَقَدَّمْتُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَلَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ " . فَقُلْتُ لاَ . فَقَالَ لِلْيَهُودِيِّ " احْلِفْ " . فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِذًا يَحْلِفَ فَيَذْهَبَ بِمَالِي فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: ( إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً ) إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي أَوْفَى .
`Abdullah Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Takes A False Oath To Deprive A Muslim Of His Property, He Will Meet Allah While He Is Angry With Him." So Al-Ash'Ath Bin Qais Said: "By Allah! This Was About Me. There Was A Dispute Between Myself And A Jewish Man Who Denied My Right, And I Complained Against Him To The Prophet (ﷺ). So The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said To Me: 'Do You Have Any Proof?' I Said: 'No.' So He Said To The Jew: 'Take An Oath.' I Said: 'O Messenger Of Allah! If He Takes An Oath Then I Will Lose My Property.'So Allah, Blessed And Most High, Revealed: Verily Those Who Purchase A Small Gain At The Cost Of Allah'S Covenant And Their Oaths... Until The End Of The Ayah. (3:77)"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2996In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 48English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 2996
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 2996
This hadith about false oath gives a serious warning. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever takes a false oath to deprive a Muslim of his property will meet Allah while Allah is angry with him. Al-Ash'ath bin Qais then said the matter was about him. He had a dispute with a Jewish man over land, and the man denied his right. When the case came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, Al-Ash'ath had no proof, so the other man was asked to take an oath. Al-Ash'ath feared that if the man swore, his property would be lost. Then the verse about those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's covenant and their oaths was revealed. The hadith protects truth, property, and honest testimony.
What we learn from this hadith
- A false oath to take someone's property is treated as a grave wrong in the hadith.
- Claims need proof, as shown by the Prophet's question, "Do you have any proof?"
- An oath should not be used as a tool for injustice.
- Worldly gain is not worth Allah's anger.
