The Binding Consequence of Oath and Vows

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘It is not permissible to take an oath to make an unlawful matter lawful, a lawful matter unlawful or to cut off good relations with relatives.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not permissible to take an oath to make an unlawful matter lawful, a lawful matter unlawful or to cut off good relations with relatives.’”

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who takes an oath to cut off relations with relatives. He (the Imam) said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A vow for an unlawful matter is not valid and an oath to cut off relations with relatives is not valid.’ I then asked about a man who is made by Sultan to divorce or in other matters. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense on his part.’ I then asked about a man who fears from Sultan for his assets and takes an oath to protect them from him. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not an offense on his part.’ I asked if a man could take an oath to protect the assets of his brothers as he does for himself. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, it is permissible.’”

“About the case of a man who takes an oath not to speak to a certain relative, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It does not have any valid effect. He must speak to one about whom he has taken an oath not to speak.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Any oath which is not for the sake of Allah does not have any valid effect, whether it is in divorce or freeing a slave.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I then asked him (the Imam) about a woman who has made her assets for the house of Allah if certain woman borrows her certain items and also so and so woman, then certain ones allow her to borrow and others do not allow.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘There is an offering animal on her. Offering is what Allah has made a gift for al-Ka’bah and for this reason it is offered if it is made for Allah. Such things are of no valid effect as well as such offering animal on which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, is not mentioned.’ He (the Imam) was asked about a man who says that there are one thousand camels on me when he is in the state of Ihram, or a thousand al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘Such things are of the temptation of Satan.’ About the case of a man who in the state of Ihram takes an oath for al-Hajj or that he says to offer this food. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect; food cannot be offered. He may say that the camel slaughtered after it is slaughtered, he wants to offer it to the house of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Camels are offered when they are living, not when it turns to flesh.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Taking an oath in anger does not have any valid effect or to cut off relations with relatives, by Jabr (force) or Ikrah (coercion, dislike).’ I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what is the difference between forced and coerced?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Force is by Sultan, coercion or dislike is from the wife, mother or father and that does not have any valid effect.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘An oath in anger or to cut off relations with relatives, by Jabr (force) or Ikrah (coercion, dislike) does not have any valid effect.’ I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what is the difference between forced and coerced?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Force is by Sultan coercion or dislike is from the wife, mother or father and that does not have any valid effect.’”