❖ Saying “In Shā’ Allāh” While Taking an Oath – Islamic Ruling ❖
This writing is excerpted from the book "500 Questions and Answers for Women" based on the Fatwas of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
What is the meaning of the Hadith narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
"من حلف على يمين، فقال : إن شاء الله فلم يحنث فلا حنث عليه"
[Nasb al-Rāyah by al-Zaylaʿī 3/234]
“Whoever takes an oath and says: ‘If Allah wills (in shā’ Allāh),’ and then does not fulfill the oath, he is not guilty of breaking it.”
The meaning of this Hadith is: if a person says “in shā’ Allāh” at the time of taking an oath, and later does not fulfill the oath, then no expiation (kaffārah) is required for breaking it.
For example:
Therefore, it is recommended that one says “in shā’ Allāh” while taking an oath, so that if the oath cannot be fulfilled for any reason, no expiation becomes obligatory.
Saying “in shā’ Allāh” along with an oath also brings ease in fulfilling the oath, as Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ...﴾ [65:3]
“And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Allah will accomplish His purpose. Verily, Allah has set a measure for all things.”
(Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn ḥafiẓahullāh)
This writing is excerpted from the book "500 Questions and Answers for Women" based on the Fatwas of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
What is the meaning of the Hadith narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما:
"من حلف على يمين، فقال : إن شاء الله فلم يحنث فلا حنث عليه"
[Nasb al-Rāyah by al-Zaylaʿī 3/234]
“Whoever takes an oath and says: ‘If Allah wills (in shā’ Allāh),’ and then does not fulfill the oath, he is not guilty of breaking it.”
❖ Answer:
The meaning of this Hadith is: if a person says “in shā’ Allāh” at the time of taking an oath, and later does not fulfill the oath, then no expiation (kaffārah) is required for breaking it.
For example:
- If someone says: “By Allah, I will surely do this, in shā’ Allāh”, and then does not do it,
- Or says: “By Allah, I will not do this, in shā’ Allāh”, and then ends up doing it—
In both cases, no kaffārah is due, because the statement “in shā’ Allāh” attaches the condition of divine will to the oath.
Therefore, it is recommended that one says “in shā’ Allāh” while taking an oath, so that if the oath cannot be fulfilled for any reason, no expiation becomes obligatory.
❖ Additional Benefit:
Saying “in shā’ Allāh” along with an oath also brings ease in fulfilling the oath, as Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ...﴾ [65:3]
“And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him. Allah will accomplish His purpose. Verily, Allah has set a measure for all things.”
(Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn ḥafiẓahullāh)
