Today we share a hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about a rampart ill in our society - not only Muslim societies but the world over. A large number of deceivers and usurpers of others' rights and property are seen making false oaths in the courts to justify the unjustly acquired property of others as theirs. This one of the gravest sin to make a false oath with the mala fide intention of robbing rights and properties of others.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ aired a very stern warning for such people and warned them of severe consequences on the Day of the Judgement. This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī (Book 97: Oneness, Uniqueness of Allah (Tawheed) /كتاب الأذان/ Chapter 24: “Some faces that Day shall be Nadirah. Looking at their Lord.” / بَابُ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَاضِرَةٌ إِلَى رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَةٌ} ) as Hadith 7445, given herein under:
Narrated by`Abdullah:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever takes the property of a Muslim by taking a false oath, will meet Allah Who will be angry with him." Then the Prophet (ﷺ) recited the Verse:-- 'Verily those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter, neither will Allah speak to them, nor look at them.' (3.77)
Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكُ بْنُ أَعْيَنَ، وَجَامِعُ بْنُ أَبِي رَاشِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنِ اقْتَطَعَ مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ بِيَمِينٍ كَاذِبَةٍ، لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ ". قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِصْدَاقَهُ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ جَلَّ ذِكْرُهُ {إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً أُولَئِكَ لاَ خَلاَقَ لَهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُهُمُ اللَّهُ} الآيَةَ.
This hadith, narrated by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), highlights the severe consequences for those who deceive others by taking false oaths to unjustly acquire property. The Prophet (ﷺ) explained this warning by reciting the Qur'anic verse from Surah Al-Imran:
"Verily those who purchase a small gain at the cost of Allah's Covenant and their oaths, they shall have no portion in the Hereafter, neither will Allah speak to them, nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection." (Qur'an 3:77)
Explanation of the Hadith and Quranic Verse
- The Severity of False Oaths in Acquiring Property:
- The Prophet (ﷺ) warns that anyone who uses a false oath to unjustly acquire the wealth or property of a fellow Muslim will face Allah's wrath. In Islamic teachings, oaths are taken very seriously, as they are considered a promise made in the name of Allah. Misusing them to gain worldly benefits is a severe violation of trust and respect towards Allah.
- This hadith specifically addresses those who manipulate the trust of others, using Allah's name falsely to achieve selfish goals. Such deception and dishonesty are major sins in Islam because they harm individuals and destroy community trust.
- The Quranic Verse: A Warning of Severe Consequences:
- In Surah Al-Imran (3:77), Allah describes the grave consequences for those who break His covenant and misuse their oaths. This verse emphasizes that such people will have no share in the blessings of the Hereafter, and Allah will withhold His mercy, denying them His gaze, words, or forgiveness.
- These consequences illustrate the seriousness of violating trust by lying under oath, particularly for personal gain. The verse conveys that not only is this a betrayal of a fellow human, but it is also a direct offense to Allah Himself, as they break their commitment to Him by using His name in deceit.
Connecting the Hadith and the Quranic Verse
The Prophet’s (ﷺ) statement aligns closely with the Quranic message, reinforcing that betrayal and dishonesty have profound spiritual repercussions. In this hadith, he (ﷺ) uses the Quranic verse to underscore that people who exploit others through false oaths are stripping themselves of Allah’s mercy and blessings in the Hereafter. This alignment between the hadith and Quran provides believers with a comprehensive warning, encouraging them to be truthful and uphold trust as a core aspect of their faith.
Lessons from the Hadith and Quranic Verse
- Sanctity of Trust and Honesty: Both the hadith and Quranic verse highlight that honesty is a central tenet of Islamic character. Honesty is essential to building trust and social harmony, and breaking it leads to spiritual and communal harm. Islam views betrayal, especially through false oaths, as a severe transgression.
- Responsibility of Using Allah’s Name: Invoking Allah’s name, especially in oaths, comes with great responsibility. The misuse of Allah’s name reflects disregard for His honor and for the values He upholds, making such an act deeply offensive and sinful.
- Prioritizing the Hereafter Over Temporary Gain: The Quranic verse reminds Muslims to prioritize the eternal reward of the Hereafter over temporary worldly gain. Those who seek personal benefit by dishonest means, neglecting the consequences in the Hereafter, are warned of severe consequences.
- Allah’s Displeasure with Deception: By explaining the consequences of false oaths in such explicit terms, the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Qur’an convey that Allah’s mercy will be far from those who engage in deceit. This underlines the importance of sincerity and integrity in all dealings, as well as the ultimate accountability each individual has before Allah.
Practical Applications
- Integrity in Financial Dealings: Muslims are urged to maintain integrity in all financial matters, ensuring that their transactions are fair, truthful, and free from deceit.
- Respecting Oaths and Promises: When making an oath, particularly in legal or financial contexts, Muslims should uphold their words and fulfill their promises. This ensures that trust remains intact within the community.
- Prioritizing Spiritual Values Over Material Gain: This teaching encourages believers to consider the spiritual impact of their actions. Temporary gains achieved through dishonesty will ultimately lead to loss in the Hereafter.
- Seeking Forgiveness and Repentance: For those who may have committed such sins in the past, this hadith and verse encourage sincere repentance, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and making amends.
The hadith and Quranic verse together reinforce the gravity of using false oaths for personal gain. The consequences extend beyond worldly loss; they sever a person’s connection with Allah, leading to deprivation in the Hereafter. This teaching serves as a reminder to Muslims to act with honesty and sincerity in all aspects of life, as this is the path to earning Allah’s mercy and eternal success.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Warning and Cautions for more Hadiths on the subject
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.
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