If one swears an oath regarding something one believes to be the case, and it turns out to be otherwise, is there any obligation upon him?
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The questioner : If one swears an oath regarding something one believes to be the case, and it turns out to be otherwise, what is the ruling? May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : If a person swears an oath regarding something he believes to be the case, and it turns out to be otherwise, then he owes nothing. This is because he was truthful in his oath, as at the time of the oath he did not believe in anything other than what he swore to. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to swear oaths in such matters before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and he did not disapprove of them.
In the story of the man who had intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramadan, he then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) seeking a ruling. He said to him: The man said: I do not find one. Then he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6711 He said: I am not able. Then he said: Sahih al-Bukhari 6711 He said: I am not able. The man sat down, and dates were brought to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and he said: The man said: To someone poorer than me, O Messenger of Allah! By Allah, there is no household between the two sides of Medina poorer than mine. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) laughed until his molars or his canines were visible, then he said:
So the man swore that between the two sides, meaning between the two sides of Medina, there is no household poorer than his. It is known that he did not go around to investigate every household, but he swore based on what he believed to be the most likely case, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) approved of that for him.
In summary, the answer is that we say: If one swears an oath regarding something he believes to be a specific case, and it turns out to be otherwise, then he owes nothing, neither sin nor expiation.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : If a person swears an oath regarding something he believes to be the case, and it turns out to be otherwise, then he owes nothing. This is because he was truthful in his oath, as at the time of the oath he did not believe in anything other than what he swore to. The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to swear oaths in such matters before the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and he did not disapprove of them.
In the story of the man who had intercourse with his wife during the day in Ramadan, he then came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) seeking a ruling. He said to him:
Do you find a slave to free?
هل تجد رقبة ؟Can you fast for two successive months?
هل تستطيع أن تصوم شهرين متتابعين ؟Can you feed sixty poor persons?
هل تستطيع أن تطعم ستين مسكيناً ؟Take this and give it in charity.
خذ هذا تصدق بهFeed it to your family.
أطعمه أهلكSo the man swore that between the two sides, meaning between the two sides of Medina, there is no household poorer than his. It is known that he did not go around to investigate every household, but he swore based on what he believed to be the most likely case, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) approved of that for him.
In summary, the answer is that we say: If one swears an oath regarding something he believes to be a specific case, and it turns out to be otherwise, then he owes nothing, neither sin nor expiation.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.