Chapter: What Has Been Reported Concerning Frequent Swearing

And the saying of Allah the Most High: “...and guard your oaths.” (al-Māʾidah 5:89)

From Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Swearing an oath may make the goods sell, but it obliterates the blessing of the profit.” (1) Reported by al-Bukhārī and Muslim.

—

Relevance of this chapter to the Book of Tawḥīd: Perfecting monotheism entails venerating the Name of Allah and not degrading it by constant swearing, for such persistence signals a lack of respect and glorification toward Him.

“What has been reported concerning frequent swearing” means: the texts that prohibit it. Al-ḥalif—with an open ḥāʾ and a kasrah on the lām—denotes an oath.

“...and guard your oaths”: i.e., do not swear at all; some said: do not leave oaths without making the required expiation; others said: do not break them.

Manfaqatun—with a fatḥah on the mīm and the fāʾ—is a noun formed from nafāq, meaning “promotion” or “quick sale.”

Li’s-silʿah—with a kasrah on the sīn—refers to merchandise.

Mamḥaqah—with a fatḥah on the mīm and the ḥāʾ—derives from maḥq, signifying diminishment and erasure.

Overall meaning of the ḥadīth: the Prophet ﷺ warns against treating oaths lightly and against frequent