Riyad as-Salihin, 1718
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Persistence in respect of his oath about his family is more sinful with Allah than the payment of its expiation prescribed by Allah." <b>[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]</b>.
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : "لأن يلج أحدكم في يمينه في أهله آثم له عند الله تعالى من أن يعطي كفارته التي فرض الله عليه". ((متفق عليه)) قوله: "يلَجّ" بفتح اللام، وتشديد الجيم: أي يتمادى فيها، ولا يكفر، قوله: "آثم" هو بالثاء المثلثة، أي: أكثر إثمًا.
References1 variant
- In-Book Reference
- Book 17, Hadith 208
Sharh · explanationclick to expand
<b>Guidance from the Hadiths:</b><br>
1) If a person takes an oath regarding something and then sees a better course of action, he should do what is better and expiate for his broken oath.<br>
2) Expiating for the broken oath and doing what is better is more recommended than insisting on fulfilling the oath for fear of sin. It is even more sinful to insist on upholding the oath that causes harm.<br>
Note:<br>
The word “family” used in the last Hadith refers to what is more common and more significant. Yet, the ruling applies to oaths regarding one’s family as well as others.