Moreover, the Companions understood the verse in this general sense. Likewise, scholars generally understood it to encompass oaths sworn by Allah and other oaths.

We may also say: Very well, let us concede that the oath mentioned in the verse means an oath sworn by Allah Most High, and that no binding ruling results from any other oath. It is nevertheless well known that swearing by His attributes is like swearing by Him, as when someone says, “By Allah’s might,” “By Allah’s life,” or “By the Magnificent Quran.” Reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the Companions establish the permissibility of swearing by these attributes and others like them. Furthermore, swearing by His attributes is like seeking refuge in them—even though refuge may be sought only in Allah—as in the Prophet’s words (peace and blessings be upon him):

“I seek refuge in Your Face.”

“I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words.”

“I seek refuge in Your pleasure from Your wrath.”

There are other examples of this, and it is well established among the scholars.

That being so, an oath involving a vow, divorce, or the like is an oath by Allah’s attributes. When someone says, “If I do such-and-such, I must perform Hajj,” he has sworn by the imposition of Hajj upon himself as an obligation. Making Hajj obligatory upon him is one of Allah Most High’s rulings, and it is among His attributes. The same applies if he says, “Then I must free a slave.”

When he says, “Then my wife is divorced and my slave is free,” he has sworn by the termination of his ownership, which amounts to making it forbidden to him. Making something forbidden is among Allah’s attributes, just as making something obligatory is among His attributes. Allah has counted this among His signs in His words:

“Do not take Allah’s signs in jest.”

Thus He counted the issuing of such rulings concerning marriage, divorce, and divorce by redemption among His signs.

But when someone swears by making something obligatory or forbidden, he has made his oath a commitment to Allah, just as he makes a vow to Allah. For his statement, “I must perform Hajj and fast,” constitutes a pledge