Al-Athram also narrated from Ahmad: ‘Abd al-Razzāq narrated to us: Ibn Jurayj narrated to us:

‘Atā’ was asked about a man who said, “I pledge a thousand sacrificial camels.” He replied, “It is an oath.” He was asked about a man who said, “I pledge a thousand pilgrimages.” He replied, “It is an oath.” He was asked about a man who said, “My wealth is dedicated as an offering.” He replied, “It is an oath.” He was asked about a man who said, “My wealth is dedicated to the poor.” He replied, “It is an oath.”

Ahmad said: ‘Abd al-Razzāq narrated to us: Ma‘mar informed us, from Qatāda, from al-Hasan and Jābir ibn Zayd, concerning a man who says, “If I do not do such-and-such, then I am in a state of consecration for Hajj.” They both said, “Only someone who intends to perform Hajj enters the state of consecration. This is an oath for which he must offer expiation.”

Ahmad also said: ‘Abd al-Razzāq narrated to us: Ma‘mar informed us, from Ibn Tāwūs, from his father, who said, “It is an oath for which he must offer expiation.”

Harb al-Kirmānī said: Al-Musayyib ibn Wādih narrated to us: Yūsuf ibn Abī al-Safar narrated to us, from al-Awzā‘ī, from ‘Atā’ ibn Abī Rabāh, who said:

I asked Ibn ‘Abbās about a man who swears to walk to Allah’s Sacred House. He replied, “Walking is binding only upon someone who intends it. As for someone who swears in anger, he must offer expiation for an oath.”

Moreover, what counts in speech is its meaning, not its wording. The person taking such an oath does not intend an act of devotion to Allah; rather, he intends to urge an action or prevent it. This is what an oath means: the person swearing intends to urge an action or prevent it. Now, if expiation suffices when he binds himself to that action by invoking Allah Most High, would it not suffice all the more when he makes the obligation of an act of worship, or the prohibition of something permissible, conditional upon that action?

For when he invokes Allah in connection with that action and then breaks his oath, the consequence is that he has undermined his faith in Allah by failing to honor his covenant. But when he makes the obligation or prohibition of an action conditional upon it, the consequence of breaking his oath is merely the omission of an obligation or the commission of something forbidden. It is well known that a breach of oath that