Ibn Majah

Benefits and Issues:

➊
It is the right of a Muslim over another Muslim to assist him in a permissible matter, especially when help has been requested from him.
Administering an oath (qasam dena) is also a kind of request, but it carries more emphasis, and since Allah’s name is invoked in the request, it should definitely be fulfilled.

➋
If an oath is administered for an impermissible (unlawful) matter, it should not be fulfilled, because Allah the Exalted has commanded:

“Help one another in righteousness and piety, but do not help one another in sin and transgression.”
Similarly, if an oath is administered for something that is difficult for the person to do, then he is excused for not fulfilling it.

➌
Fulfilling an oath in everyday minor matters is part of good character. For example:
If someone says,
“I give you an oath that you must eat from this food,” then one should eat a little so that the Muslim is not hurt.

Hadith Commentary: That is, he should fulfill whatever he has intended so that his oath becomes truthful.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
In this hadith as well, the word "qasam" (oath) is used instead of "half" (swearing), and with this too, an oath becomes binding. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam has commanded that the oath of the one who swears should be fulfilled; this applies when there is no risk of harm in fulfilling the oath. If fulfilling the oath poses a risk of harm to the one being sworn upon or to other religious people, then it is not necessary to fulfill it, just as the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not fulfill the oath of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq radi Allahu anhu, because in his interpretation, mentioning the place of error would have posed a risk of harm to the Muslims. Therefore, in the aforementioned hadith, the command to fulfill the oath is one of recommendation (istihbab). This is also only when there is no preventing factor present. And Allah knows best. (Umdat al-Qari: 15/704)

(2)
The aforementioned hadith is part of a lengthy narration which was reported by al-Bara’ ibn Azib radi Allahu anhu. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Funerals, Hadith: 1239)