Indeed, Allah Almighty forbids you to swear by your forefathers
Narrator in the source: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb reported that the Messenger of Allah
‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah Almighty forbids you to swear by your forefathers." ‘Umar said: By Allah, I have never sworn by that since I heard that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade it, neither deliberately nor reporting it from others.
- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Agreed upon
Original Arabic wording
عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَنْهَاكُمْ أَنْ تَحْلِفُوا بِآبَائِكُمْ»، قَالَ عُمَرُ: فَوَاللهِ مَا حَلَفْتُ بِهَا مُنْذُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْهَا ذَاكِرًا وَلَا آثِرًا.
Understand this hadith ＋
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that Allah Almighty forbids swearing by the forefathers. So, whoever wants to swear should swear by Allah only and none but Him. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, then, mentioned that ever since he heard the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prohibit it, he never swore by other than Allah neither intentionally nor by reporting such an oath on behalf of others.
Lessons from the hadith
- The prohibition of swearing by other than Allah, especially by the forefathers was a habit practiced in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance.
- Swearing means taking an oath by Allah, His Names, or His Attributes regarding some matter as a form of affirmation.
- The superiority of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), given his quick compliance, good understanding, and prudence.
References (original Arabic)
صحيح البخاري (8/ 132) (6647).
صحيح مسلم (3/ 1266) (1646).
تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، للبسام (ص684).
الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري (2/ 134).
'Whoever swears by other than Allah has disbelieved or associated partners with Allah.'
Narrator in the source: Ibn ‘Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah
Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that he heard a man saying: “No, by the Ka‘bah.” He said to him: "Do not swear by other than Allah, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Whoever swears by other than Allah has disbelieved or associated partners with Allah.'"
- Grade in the source
- Authentic
- Reported by
- Narrated by Abu Dāwūd, At-Tirmidhi, and Ahmad
Original Arabic wording
عن ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضي الله عنهما أنه سَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَقُولُ: لَا وَالْكَعْبَةِ، فَقَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ: لَا يُحْلَفُ بِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ حَلَفَ بِغَيْرِ اللهِ فَقَدْ كَفَرَ أَوْ أَشْرَكَ».
Understand this hadith ＋
The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that whoever swears by other than Allah and His names and attributes has disbelieved in Allah or associated partners with Him. This is because swearing entails extolment of the one by whom swearing is done, whereas all greatness belongs to Allah alone. So, we must only swear by Allah, His names, and attributes. This type of swearing falls under minor polytheism. However, if the swearer extols what he swears by like the extolment of Allah or greater, then his swearing constitutes major polytheism.
Lessons from the hadith
- Extolment by swearing is a right only due to Allah Almighty. So, we should only swear by Allah and His names and attributes.
- It points out the keenness of the Companions to enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, particularly if the wrong act pertains to polytheism or disbelief.
References (original Arabic)
سنن الترمذي (3/ 194) (1535).
سنن أبي داود (5/ 154- 155) (3251).
مسند أحمد (9/ 249) (5346)، (9/ 275) (5375)، (10/ 249) (6072).
فتح المجيد شرح كتاب التوحيد، لعبد الرحمن التميمي (ص413).
القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، لابن عثيمين (2/ 214).
الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص326).
الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص365).
التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح آل الشيخ (ص452).
فتاوى اللجنة الدائمة، (1/ 343).