“An oath is a solemn appeal to Allah, to witness one’s determination, or to emphasise a matter by mentioning a glorified one in particular. Glorification and exaltation are due to Allah alone. Lying is forbidden in Islam, just as deception. Taking a false oath is considered to be a very serious sin.”
These are the submissions of an Islamic cleric, Imam Sharafadeen Abdulahi.
Abdulahi, who is the Director, Al-mumin Arabic Centre, Lagos, also said, “It is not permitted to swear by any other, than Allah.”
Scholars, he said, agree that an oath must be sworn to by Allah, His Names or Attributes only, and that, swearing by other than Allah constitutes Shirk.
“It’s forbidden in Islam to swear to an oath by anything other than Allah. In other words, when we take an oath in Islam, we say ‘Wallahi’ or ‘Wallah hil-atheem.’ (“By Allah” or “By Allah the Most Glorious”).
“We do not swear on the Quran, or on the Prophet (pbuh), or on the Ka’bah, or anything besides Allah. It’s not something you can do and then just say a few ‘astaghfirullah’ and forget about it,” Abdulahi counselled.
He noted that if someone is found wanting in this regard, the person is expected to make a sincere tawbah for lying, and for swearing on something besides Allah. He or she should ask Allah’s forgiveness and resolve truly from their heart not to do these things again.
Ibn Umar (radhi allahu anhu) narrated, “The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘Allah has prohibited you from taking an oath by your fathers. He who must take an oath, may do so by swearing in the Name of Allah or he should remain silent.’’’
Ibn Umar (radhi allahu anhu) also reported that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, ‘He who swears by other than Allah, commits Kufr and Shirk.’
Abdulahi cited that such is the case of the grave worshippers of today. “Some people fear dead people whom they aggrandise more than they fear Allah, to the point that if one of them is asked to swear by a wali, he would not dare to do so, unless he swears on a truth; but if he is asked to swear by Allah, he would do so even if he is lying.”
He opined that in the case of corrupt politicians who promise their followers and fail to deliver their promises, they have committed a great sin before Allah.
To buttress this, he noted that in a hadith narrated by Saheeh Muslim, Abu Umamah Iyas (radhi allahu anhu) said, “The Prophet (SAW) said, ‘He who misappropriates the right of a Muslim by taking a false oath, Allah will condemn him to the fire of Hell and will forbid Jannah for him.’ A person asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, even if it is something insignificant?’ He replied, ‘Yes, even if it is the twig of an Arak tree.’’
Also, another hadith that dwells more on false oath taking is the hadith narrated by Al-Bukharee, who said that the Prophet (SAW) also said, “Of the major sins are; associating anything in worship with Allah, disobedience to the parents, killing without justification and taking a false oath (intentionally).
“This means that there are three categories of people to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection nor will He cleanse them of their sins with forgiveness. This is because they committed sins without any excuse or justification and the first of these three is the fornicator and adulterer, who continues to sin in spite of his advanced years and consequent lessening of sexual urge, and his knowledge that the end of his life is near. “
“The second is the man, who behaves arrogantly towards people, though, he possesses none of the wealth, rank or privilege, which often lead men to behave arrogantly.
“The third is the one, who treats Allah’s Name with impropriety, frequently swearing by Him, without cause or valid excuse.”
