Benefits of the Hadith: (… and fulfilling the oath of the one who swears, and supporting the oppressed)
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The Shaykh : We have previously spoken about this, except for fulfilling the oath of the one who swears. Fulfilling the oath of the one who swears means that if your brother swears an oath upon you, you fulfill his oath. However, this is conditional on there being no harm to you. If there is harm to you, it is not obligatory for you. Likewise, if what he is asking you to disclose or mention is something one is shy to reveal, it is not obligatory for you. But in a matter that causes you no harm and is not something one is shy to reveal, if he swears an oath upon you, you fulfill his oath. For example, if he hosts you as a guest and says to you, “By Allah, do not slaughter a sacrificial animal for me,” in this case, you are commanded to fulfill the oath.
But if a man came to you and said, “I swear by Allah that you will tell me how much wealth you have,” is it obligatory for you?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for you, because this may cause harm to you. Also, he is in error, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 3976Da’if (Darussalam) And if we were to say that a person is commanded to fulfill an oath like this, it would cause much embarrassment. He asks about everything: what is your situation, what is your condition, where are you going, where are you coming from. This is a problem. Yes.
Likewise, supporting the oppressed. Supporting the oppressed is also obligatory, and this is by repelling the injustice from him, whether this injustice is against his honor, his wealth, or his family. For example, if you are in a gathering and someone wants to backbite a person, this is injustice. It is obligatory for you to defend him, at least preventing the violation of his honor. At least, if you mention his good qualities in a way that causes what is in the hearts of the present people to disappear, that is good. But at least, you must repel his backbiting and injustice.
Good, what about supporting the oppressor?
The questioner : Preventing him from committing injustice.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also commanded this:Sahih al-Bukhari 2443 And he clarified that supporting the oppressor is for a person to prevent him from his injustice. So, if you prevent a person who wants to backbite another and you say, “This is not possible and not permissible, and you cannot backbite him,” then there is no doubt that this is support for him, because you prevented him from injustice. Yes.
The questioner : Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Jamal?
But if a man came to you and said, “I swear by Allah that you will tell me how much wealth you have,” is it obligatory for you?
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : It is not obligatory for you, because this may cause harm to you. Also, he is in error, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Part of a person’s goodness in Islam is his leaving alone that which does not concern him.
من حسن إسلام المرء تركه ما لا يعنيهLikewise, supporting the oppressed. Supporting the oppressed is also obligatory, and this is by repelling the injustice from him, whether this injustice is against his honor, his wealth, or his family. For example, if you are in a gathering and someone wants to backbite a person, this is injustice. It is obligatory for you to defend him, at least preventing the violation of his honor. At least, if you mention his good qualities in a way that causes what is in the hearts of the present people to disappear, that is good. But at least, you must repel his backbiting and injustice.
Good, what about supporting the oppressor?
The questioner : Preventing him from committing injustice.
The Shaykh : The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also commanded this:
Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or he is an oppressed one.
انصر أخاك ظالما أو مظلوماThe questioner : Shaykh?
The Shaykh : Jamal?