Page 518 - An Index to the Qur'an
P. 518
O light that the two of them have merited the alle-
gation of wrongdoing, two others who have the
OATH most right to do so should take their place and
swear by Allah: ‘Our testimony is truer than their
Do not, by your oaths, make Allah a pretext to
testimony. We have not committed perjury. If we
avoid good action and guarding against evil and
had we would indeed be wrongdoers.’ That
putting things right between people. Allah is All-
makes it more likely that they will give their evi-
Hearing, All-Knowing. (2:224)
dence properly or be afraid that their oaths will
Allah will not take you to task for inadvertent
be refuted by subsequent oaths. Have fear of
statements in your oaths, but He will take you to
Allah and listen carefully. Allah does not guide
task for the intention your hearts have made.
deviant people. (5:106-108)
Allah is Ever-Forgiving, All-Forbearing. (2:225)
They have sworn by Allah with their most earnest
Those who swear to abstain from sexual relations
oaths that if a Sign comes to them they will be-
with their wives can wait for a period of up to
lieve in it. Say: ‘The Signs are in Allah’s control
four months. If they then retract their oath, Allah
alone.’ What will make you realise that even if a
is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (2:226)
Sign did come, they would still not believe?
Those who sell Allah’s contract and their own
(6:109)
oaths for a paltry price, such people will have no
If they break their oaths after making their treaty
portion in the hereafter and on the Day of Rising
and defame your religion, then fight the leaders
Allah will not speak to them or look at them or
of disbelief–they have no binding oaths–so that
purify them. They will have a painful punish-
hopefully they will stop. (9:12)
ment. (3:77)
Will you not fight a people who have broken
Those who believe say, ‘Are these the people
their oaths and resolved to expel the Messenger,
who swore by Allah, with their most earnest
and who initiated hostilities against you in the
oaths, that they were with you?’ Their actions
first place? Is it them you fear? Allah has more
have come to nothing and they now are losers.
right to your fear if you are believers. (9:13)
(5:53)
They swear by Allah with their most earnest
Allah does not take you to task for your inadver-
oaths that Allah will not raise up those who die,
tent oaths, but He will take you to task for oaths
when, on the contrary, it is a binding promise on
you make intentionally. The expiation in that
Him; but most people do not know it. (16:38)
case is to feed ten poor people with the average
Be true to Allah’s contract when you have agreed
amount you feed your family, or clothe them, or
to it, and do not break your oaths once they are
free a slave. Anyone without the means to do so
confirmed and you have made Allah your guar-
should fast three days. That is the expiation for
antee. Allah knows what you do. (16:91)
breaking oaths when you have sworn them. Keep
Do not be like a woman who spoils the thread
your oaths. In this way Allah makes His Signs
she has spun by unravelling it after it is strong, by
clear to you, so that hopefully you will be thank-
making your oaths a means of deceiving one an-
ful. (5:89)
other, merely because one community is bigger
You who believe! When one of you is near to
than another. Allah is only testing you by this. He
death and makes a will, two just men from
will make clear to you on the Day of Rising the
among you should act as witnesses; or, if you are
things about which you differed. (16:92)
travelling when the misfortune of death occurs,
Do not make your oaths a means of deceiving
two men who are strangers to you. You should
one another or your foot will slip after it was
detain them after prayer and, if you are doubtful,
firmly placed and you will taste evil for barring
they should swear by Allah: ‘We will not sell it
access to the Way of Allah and you will have a
for any price, even to a near relative, and we will
terrible punishment. (16:94)
not conceal the testimony of Allah. If we did we
They have sworn by Allah with their most earnest
would indeed be wrongdoers.’ If it then comes to
516

