Book of Oaths and Vows
Linguistically, the word aymān—with the hamza pronounced with a fatḥa—is the plural of yamīn (right hand). The right hand is the opposite of the left, and the term came to mean “an oath” because, when the Arabs swore an agreement, each party would clasp the other’s right hand.
Legally, an oath is to affirm or strengthen a matter that could go either way by invoking one of Allah’s Names or Attributes.
The legitimacy of oaths is established by the Quran, the Sunnah, and scholarly consensus.
From the Quran: “Allah will not call you to account for unintentional oaths,” and, “Do not break oaths after you have confirmed them.”
As for the Sunnah, it is widely known in this regard, and some relevant hadiths will be cited shortly, God willing.
The Muslim community is unanimously agreed on the lawfulness of swearing an oath and on the rulings that pertain to it.
Even so, one should not swear excessively; it is legislated only when needed—to remove doubt, dispel suspicion, or emphasize a statement.
Allah commanded His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to swear to the Resurrection in three places in the Quran:
- “They ask you to inform them: ‘Is it really true?’ Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord.’”
- “Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord, you will surely be resurrected.’”
- “Say, ‘Yes, by my Lord, it will most certainly come to you.’”
The Prophet himself also swore on many other occasions.
Oaths are of different kinds. In the hadiths the author will cite, two appear: the immersing oath (al-yamīn al-ghamūs) and the oath that incurs expiation; both will be discussed in due course.
The author, however, omits the unintentional oath (laghw al-yamīn). The best explanation is that it falls into two categories:
- An oath the speaker never intends—it simply slips off the tongue without deliberation or emphasis. ʿĀʾishah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It is the casual speech of a man in his home: ‘No, by Allah,’ and, ‘Yes, by Allah.’” The same wording is also transmitted from her as her own statement.