This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Hussain bin Mubarak Al-Mosuli's Arabic book Al-Awamer wal-Nawahi, whose Urdu translation has been done by Muhammad Sarwar Gohar Sahib under the title Ahkamat o Mamnooat.
Saying Insha Allah when taking an oath
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من حلف على يمين ثم قال إن شاء الله فقد استثنى
Whoever takes an oath and then says Insha Allah (if Allah wills), he has made an exception.
Reference: An-Nasa’i, Kitab al-Iman, Bab al-Istithna 26/7.
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من حلف على يمين فاستثنى فإن شاء رجع وإن شاء ترك غير حنث
Whoever takes an oath and makes an exception (by saying Insha Allah), then if he wishes he may retract, and if he wishes he may abandon it. He will not be sinful in this.
Reference: Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith 3261. An-Nasa’i, Kitab al-Iman, Bab man Halafa fa Istathna 12/70.
Expiation for breaking an oath
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من حلف على يمين فرأى غيرها خيرا منها فليكفر عن يمينه
Whoever takes an oath and then sees a better course of action than that oath, let him choose the better course and pay the expiation for his oath.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith 1650. Muwatta, Vows and Oaths 478/2. Tirmidhi, Book of Vows and Oaths 361.
② Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من حلف على يمين فرأى غيرها خيرا منها فليأت الذى هو خير وليكفر عن يمينه
Whoever swears an oath and then sees a better alternative in the matter, let him choose the better alternative and pay the expiation for his oath.
Reference: Muslim, Book of Faith 1650. Bayhaqi, Volume Nine or Ten, Chapter on One Who Swears an Oath and Sees Another Alternative 31/10.
Instructions Regarding Fulfilling Vows
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab رضي الله عنه said, "O Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم! I had intended to perform I'tikaf for one night in Masjid al-Haram during the time of Jahiliyyah. What should I do now?" The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
أوف بنذرك
Fulfill your vow.
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-I'tikaf 2042. Muslim, Kitab al-Iman 1656/27.
② Sayyida Aisha رضي الله عنها narrates from the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم that he said:
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه، ومن نذر أن يعصيه فلا يعصه
Whoever makes a vow to obey Allah, then he should fulfill it, and whoever makes a vow to disobey Him, then he should not fulfill it (should not commit that sin).
Reference: Bukhari, Kitab al-Iman wal-Nudhur 6696. Abu Dawood, Kitab al-Iman wal-Nudhur 3289. Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Nudhur wal-Iman 1526.
