Should I Swear an Oath If My Friend Requests It?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

My friend asked me about something important to him, and when I informed him, he requested that I swear an oath about it. Should I comply with his request?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

The Principle Regarding Oaths

The principle regarding oaths and swearing is that they are primarily used to ensure certainty and seriousness regarding a statement, action, or claim. However, swearing oaths without genuine necessity is discouraged, as Allah (Most High) says:

“Do not use Allah’s Name in your oaths as an excuse.” [Quran, 2:224]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also warned about unnecessary oaths when he said:

“The best generation is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them. Then there will come a people whose testimony will precede their oath, and their oath will precede their testimony.” [Bukhari]

Should You Comply?

It is better to avoid swearing oaths unless there is a pressing need.

If you believe that swearing an oath for your friend would serve a beneficial purpose—such as proving a right or preventing harm—then there is no issue in doing so.

However, if you see no benefit in swearing an oath, you are at liberty to either comply or politely decline and suffice with your truthful statement.

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.