Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amn Poori
Just as it is permissible to swear by the essence of Allah, it is also permissible to swear by His names and attributes. There is consensus (Ijma') of the Muslim Ummah on this matter, as indicated by:
◈ Imam of Andalusia, Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr (may Allah have mercy on him) states:"The scholars have unanimously agreed that if someone swears by Allah, or by one of His names, or by one of His attributes, or by the Quran, or by a verse or chapter from it, and then breaks the oath, they must offer the expiation as Allah has prescribed in His book. There is no disagreement among the scholars of the branches of jurisprudence regarding this." [Al-Tamheed: 14/369]
◈ Allama Ibn Hubayrah (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:"There is consensus that an oath is valid when made by Allah, by all His beautiful names, and by all His attributes, such as His might, majesty, knowledge, power, and ability. However, Abu Hanifa excluded the attribute of Allah's knowledge and the right of Allah, stating that an oath by them is not valid." [Kitab al-Ijma', as mentioned in Fath al-Bari by Ibn Hajar: 11/535]
The consensus of the Ummah is what holds authority, and the individual opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa in opposition to this consensus is not accepted.
Question:
Is it permissible to swear by the Quran?Answer:
Yes, it is permissible to swear by the Quran because swearing by created beings is impermissible and prohibited. However, the Quran is the true speech of Allah, and it is one of His attributes, not a created being. Therefore, whoever swears by the Quran and then breaks their oath, an expiation (Kaffarah) is obligatory upon them.Just as it is permissible to swear by the essence of Allah, it is also permissible to swear by His names and attributes. There is consensus (Ijma') of the Muslim Ummah on this matter, as indicated by:
◈ Imam of Andalusia, Hafiz Ibn Abdul Barr (may Allah have mercy on him) states:"The scholars have unanimously agreed that if someone swears by Allah, or by one of His names, or by one of His attributes, or by the Quran, or by a verse or chapter from it, and then breaks the oath, they must offer the expiation as Allah has prescribed in His book. There is no disagreement among the scholars of the branches of jurisprudence regarding this." [Al-Tamheed: 14/369]
◈ Allama Ibn Hubayrah (may Allah have mercy on him) writes:"There is consensus that an oath is valid when made by Allah, by all His beautiful names, and by all His attributes, such as His might, majesty, knowledge, power, and ability. However, Abu Hanifa excluded the attribute of Allah's knowledge and the right of Allah, stating that an oath by them is not valid." [Kitab al-Ijma', as mentioned in Fath al-Bari by Ibn Hajar: 11/535]
The consensus of the Ummah is what holds authority, and the individual opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa in opposition to this consensus is not accepted.