Ruling on Swearing by the Qur’ān: Detailed Explanation and Evidences

Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām

Nature of an Oath​

• Taking an oath indicates the high regard and reverence one holds for the object sworn by.
• Sharīʿah Principle: An oath may only be sworn by Allah’s Name or His Attributes.

Examples:

• "By Allah, I will do this."
• "By the Lord of the Kaʿbah, I will surely do it."
• "By Allah’s Honour, I will accomplish this matter."

Any of Allah’s attributes may be used in an oath.

The Qur’ān and Allah’s Speech​

• The Qur’ān is the Speech (Kalām) of Allah and thus one of His Attributes.
• It is both an Essential Attribute (Ṣifah Dhātiyyah) and an Attribute of Action (Ṣifah Fiʿliyyah):
  
  • Essential: Allah has always been and will always be One who speaks.
  • Action-based: He speaks when He wills.

Allah says:
﴿إِنَّما أَمرُهُ إِذا أَرادَ شَيـًٔا أَن يَقولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكونُ﴾ [Yā-Sīn: 82]


This shows Allah’s Speech is tied to His will and intent.

Refuting Incorrect Beliefs​

• The claim that “Allah’s Speech is eternal and independent of His will” is false.
• Such a belief imagines the Speech of Allah as not being truly heard, likening it to created concepts.
• Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (رحمه الله) refuted this in detail in his Tisʿīniyyah.

Ruling on Swearing by the Qur’ān​

• Since the Qur’ān is the Speech of Allah and an Attribute of Allah, swearing by it is permissible.
• Example: Saying “By the Qur’ān!” with the intention of meaning “By Allah’s Speech” is valid.
• The Ḥanbalī jurists explicitly state this.

However:

• It is better and clearer to use well-known phrases to avoid confusion:
  
  • "By Allah!"
  • "By the Lord of the Kaʿbah!"
  • "By Him in Whose hand is my soul!"

Ruling on Swearing by Other Than Allah​

• Swearing by anything other than Allah is ḥarām.
• Examples:
  
  • By the Prophet ﷺ
  • By Jibrīl (عليه السلام)
  • By the Kaʿbah
  • By any person or creation

Prophetic Warnings:

• “Whoever must swear, let him swear by Allah or remain silent.”
  [Bukhārī: 2679; Muslim: 1646]
• “Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed disbelief or shirk.”
  [Tirmidhī: 1535]

If Someone Swears by Other Than Allah​

• Gently explain that it is impermissible.
• Advise with kindness and wisdom, not harshness.

The Role of Wisdom and Gentleness in Correction​

• Some may react negatively if corrected harshly.
• Satan may exploit their resentment.
• Best approach: speak according to their understanding, with compassion and sincerity.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

• “Indeed Allah grants through gentleness what He does not grant through harshness.”
  [Muslim: 2593]

Example: The Bedouin in the Prophet’s Mosque​

• A Bedouin urinated in the mosque; the Companions rebuked him.
• The Prophet ﷺ stopped them, and after the man finished, he instructed:
  
  • Mosques are only for Allah’s remembrance, prayer, and Qur’ān recitation—not for impurity.
  • Ordered water to be poured over the spot.

This achieved:

1. Purification of the area.
2. Gentle correction of the ignorant.
3. Fulfillment of the goal of rectification.

Conclusion​

• Swearing by the Qur’ān is permissible because it is the Speech of Allah.
• Clearer oaths (e.g., “By Allah”) are preferable to avoid ambiguity.
• Swearing by other than Allah is ḥarām and a form of shirk or kufr.
• Correction should be carried out with wisdom, gentleness, and goodwill for better results.