Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Scholar,

ASALAMUALAIKUM...

I have a habit of swearing in the name of Allah and in the name of my parents on occasions where I am assertive and confident on the subjects I am opining in. I have gathered from a scholar that swearing in the name of Allah is permissible; but I would like to know if swearing in the name of kith and kin like father, mother, children etc. are permissible or considered as a shirq in islam. Your kind advice is requested to have better understanding on my tendency to make others trust on my opinions by swearing in the name of almighty or kith & kin.

Thanks and regards,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Swear oath in Allah’s name

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3242 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘Do not swear by your fathers, or by your mothers, or by rivals to Allah; and swear by Allah only, and swear by Allah only when you are speaking the truth.’

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.498 Narrated by Ibn Umar

The Prophet (saws) said, "Do not swear by your fathers; and whoever wants to swear should swear only by Allah."

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 3245 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

Sa'id ibn Ubaydah said: ‘Ibn Umar heard a man swearing: “No, I swear by the Ka'bah.” Ibn Umar said to him: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) say: “He who swears by anyone but Allah is a polytheist.”

If there arises a need for a believer to take an oath or swear, it is absolutely imperative and permissible in Shariah that one swear or take an oath only, and we reiterate only in the Blessed Name of Allah Subhanah; for to swear or take an oath on any place, or person, or absolutely anything in existence other than Allah Subhanah is a manifest form of the abomination of ‘shirk’ in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan