Search
Sections
< All Topics
Print

34: GHAIR ALLAH KE LIYE NAZAR MANNA [Oaths For other than Allah]

OATHS

 

Definition of oaths: 

Linguistically :

Making something obligatory or binding.

Islamically :

Making something obligatory upon yourself which is not obligatory.

 

Types of oaths:

 

1 For Allah. 

2. For other than Allah.

Allah, Exalted be He, says:

“They [are those who] fulfill (their) vows…”

 
(Qur’an: Al-Insan: 7)

 Allah, further, says:

“And whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vowsindeed, Allah knows of it…”

(Qur’an: Al-Baqarah: 270)

• Making vows for the sake of any false deity besides Allah is an act of Polytheism:

Taking a vow is an act of worship. If it is dedicated to any false deity besides Allah, it becomes an act of major polytheism.

 • They fulfill vows:

It means the commitment of oneself to do something which is not legally ordained in order to glorify the one to whom the vow is devoted.

 • And whatever you spend of expenditures:

The Qur’anic phrase includes both admitted and unadmitted acts of charity.

 • Or make of vows:

The phrase includes both permissible and impermissible kinds of vows.

 • Indeed, Allah knows of it:

It means that Allah will recompense people for their good and evil deeds. Since Allah knows the hidden intentions behind all vows, the Qur’anic phrase thus represents a promise of good rewards for the righteous and a threat of chastisement to the wrongdoer.

 General Meaning of the Two Qur’anic Verses 

Allah, Exalted be He, praises those who commit themselves to certain non-obligatory acts of worship for His sake. Moreover, Allah enunciates that He is cognizant of whatever alms we spend and whatever acts of worship we commit ourselves to, and will reward everyone according to their intentions.

 Relevance of the Two Qur’anic Verses to the Chapter 

These two verses prove that vowing is an act of worship. Therefore, Allah praises those who fulfill their vows. Allah praises only those who commit themselves to observing the obligatory acts or to abandoning the unlawful. Furthermore, Allah affirms that He is omniscient of all acts of charity we offer and of the vows we take. He will, thus, recompense us for our good and evil deeds. Therefore, vowing is an act of worship, which turns to be an act of polytheism if devoted to any false deity besides Allah.

Lessons Drawn from the Two Qur’anic Verses 

❖ Vowing is a devotional act, which becomes an act of major polytheism if devoted to any false deity besides Allah. 

❖ The two Qur’anic verses affirm that Allah is the Omniscient. 

❖ Allah will recompense people for good and evil deeds in the Hereafter. 

❖ Muslims should be encouraged to fulfill their vows.

‘A’ish ah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that th e Messenger of Allah (P B U H ) said:

“Whoever vows to obey Allah must obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah must not disobey Him.”

(Related by Al-Bukhari)

General Meaning of the Hadith 

The Prophet (PBUH) commands Muslims to fulfill the vows devoted to Allah, such as offering supererogatory prayers or giving charity. He, further, warns them against fulfilling vows entailing a sin, such as the vow to offer a sacrifice to anyone besides Allah, to offer prayer at tombs, or to go on pilgrimage to tombs.

Relevance of the Hadith to the Chapter 

According to the hadith, a man may make a vow to offer a good deed or to commit a sin. Therefore, making a vow is an act of worship, which may be regarded as an act of polytheism if dedicated to any deity besides Allah.

Lessons Drawn from the Hadith 

❖ Taking a vow is an act of worship. Therefore, if it is dedicated to anyone besides Allah, it turns to an act of polytheism. 

 ❖ A Muslim is duty bound to fulfill his vow as long as it is an act of obedience. 

❖ It is prohibited to fulfill any vow entailing an act of disobedience.

Al-Bukhari (6696), Abu Dawud, (3289), At-Tirmidhi, (1526) Ibn Majah, (2126), and Ahmad in Al-Musnad (6/ 36,41).

 

 

REFERENCES:

 

[1] BOOK: “THE THREE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES” 
EXPLANATION BY “Sheikh Haytham ibn Muhammad sarhan” @Teacher at the prophet’s mosque
 
[2] “CONCISE COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF TAWHID”
 BY SHAYKH DR. SALIH AL FAWZAN Hafizullah.

 

 

Table of Contents