Oath by Other Than Allah and Its Expiation

✿ Compiled by: Dr. Riḍā ʿAbdullāh Pāshā ḥafiẓahullāh

❖ Question:​

Is swearing by someone other than Allah an act from Shayṭān?

❖ Answer:​

It is narrated from Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ رضي الله عنه that he said:


“I once swore by Lāt and ʿUzzā.”
My companions said to me:
“You have uttered a very despicable thing, something absurd and evil!”


So I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and mentioned this to him. He said:


"Say: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Then spit lightly to your left three times,
and seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shayṭān,
and never do that again.”


Source: Sunan an-Nasāʾī al-Kubrā 6/245

❖ Summary of the Ruling:​

✔ Swearing by other than Allah is a grave mistake and considered sinful.


✔ It is influenced by Shayṭān, and one must repent and do the following if it occurs:


① Recite:
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ


② Spit lightly to the left three times.
③ Seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān.
④ Firmly resolve never to repeat the act.