Frequently Taking Oath

Frequently Taking Oath

Since the purpose of taking an oath is to confirm the pledged commitment by invoking the Esteemed, which is Allah the Almighty, Allah has prohibited the excessive use of oaths to ensure the enduring greatness of His Majesty in the hearts.

Allah says, "And guard your oaths." Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said: It means, "Do not swear."

The repetition of oaths leads to frequent breaches, indicating a lack of reverence and failure to honor Allah, the Almighty.

Narrated by Abu Huraira, may (Allah be pleased with him): I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying, "False oaths are a means of selling goods but eradicating blessings from one's earnings." The meaning is that a false oath may facilitate the sale of goods and promote them, but it becomes a cause for the loss of the blessings in one's earnings.

Narrated by Salman: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "There are three persons whom Allah neither speaks to nor looks at on the Day of Resurrection, nor purifies them, and they will have a painful punishment: an old man who commits adultery, a poor man who is arrogant, and a man who considers Allah Almighty as merchandise and sells and buys his goods by taking an oath in Him." [1].

For such individuals, the severe warning is pronounced, among whom is the person who has made Allah's oath a habitual practice. His every uttered word revolves around the oath, whether he is buying or selling. Whenever he intends to make a purchase or a sale, he seeks the refuge of an oath, a clear indication that the concept of monotheism within this individual has weakened. The vulnerability residing in the heart is manifested in the words spoken.

Ibrahim Nakha'i states, "In our childhood, testimony and oath-taking were strictly prohibited." This means that the ancestors imparted the upbringing to their children during childhood, discouraging them from giving testimony and refraining from taking oaths. This was to ensure that the grandeur of Allah Almighty continued to echo in their hearts, and they would not fall prey to the ease and carelessness associated with oaths in their transactions.

The frequent resort to the oath of divorce also falls under the same context. Whenever someone intends to undertake a task, they invoke the oath of divorce. This is a blatant transgression against the limits set by Allah and His verses.

After mentioning divorce, Allah Almighty further states:

 وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوا آيَاتِ اللَّهِ هُزُوًا﴾ [البقرة: 231])

.[ Do not take Allah’s revelations lightly.] 2:231

The revelations of Allah refer to His commands and prohibitions.

Thus concludes the twenty-second lesson, all praise be to Allah.