What is the ruling on swearing by the attributes of Allah, such as anger and satisfaction, whether they are attributed to Allah or not? We ask for an elaboration on this issue.

The questioner : The questioner asks: What is the ruling on swearing by some of the attributes of Allah, such as anger, satisfaction, and plotting, whether they are attributed to Allah or not? I ask for an elaboration on this issue.

The Shaykh : Swearing is not permissible except by Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) or by one of His attributes. As for swearing by other than Allah, it is shirk (associating partners with Allah), whether the thing sworn by is esteemed by Allah (Mighty and Majestic) or is among the rest of the creation. Therefore, it is not permissible for us to swear by the Prophet, or to swear by Jibril, or by the Ka'bah, or by any of the created things. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) himself does not like that you swear by him. When a man said to him, "What Allah and you will," he said: So swear by Allah (Mighty and Majestic), saying "By Allah," "By the Most Merciful," "By the Lord of the Worlds," "By the Mover of the Clouds," "By the Descender of the Book," and the like. And also swear by His attributes, such as "By the Might of Allah" and "By the Power of Allah," and the like. And do you swear by the mushaf (written copy of the Qur'an) or not? You swear by the mushaf because it is the speech of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and you do not intend to swear by the paper and skins, but rather you intend to swear by what these papers and skins contain. Now, is it permissible to swear by the signs of Allah, saying "By the signs of Allah" or "By the signs of Allah, I will certainly do such and such"? If by "signs" one intends the legislative signs, which are the Qur'an, then there is no harm. But if by "signs" one intends the cosmic signs, such as the sun, the moon, the night, and the day, then this is not permissible. The common people now swear by the signs of Allah; what do they intend? It appears to me that the common people who swear by the signs of Allah do not intend by that anything but the Qur'an. Therefore, swearing by the signs of Allah is permissible based on what was known and customary among those who swear by them.