Usul16

The Binding Consequence of Oath and Vows

alkafi-14634Vol. 7, p. 439

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَجُوزُ يَمِينٌ فِي تَحْلِيلِ حَرَامٍ وَ لَا تَحْرِيمِ حَلَالٍ وَ لَا قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘It is not permissible to take an oath to make an unlawful matter lawful, a lawful matter unlawful or to cut off good relations with relatives.’”

alkafi-14636Vol. 7, p. 440

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حَلَفَ فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَا نَذْرَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ وَ لَا يَمِينَ فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَحْلَفَهُ السُّلْطَانُ بِالطَّلَاقِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَحَلَفَ قَالَ لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ يَخَافُ عَلَى مَالِهِ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ فَيَحْلِفُ لِيَنْجُوَ بِهِ مِنْهُ قَالَ لَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ يَحْلِف

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the case of a man who takes an oath to cut off relations with relatives. He (the Imam) said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘A vow for an unlawful matter is not valid

alkafi-14637Vol. 7, p. 440

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا أَسْمَعُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَشْيَ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ وَ الْهَدْيَ قَالَ وَ حَلَفَ بِكُلِّ يَمِينٍ غَلِيظٍ أَلَّا أُكَلِّمَ أَبِي أَبَداً وَ لَا أَشْهَدَ لَهُ خَيْراً وَ لَا يَأْكُلَ مَعِي عَلَى الْخِوَانِ أَبَداً وَ لَا يَأْوِيَنِي وَ إِيَّاهُ سَقْفُ بَيْتٍ أَبَداً قَالَ ثُمَّ سَكَتَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ بَقِيَ شَيْ‌ءٌ قَالَ لَا جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ قَالَ

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked, when I was listening, about the case of a man who has made obligatory upon himself to walk to the House of Allah and the offering animal, he has taken an oath in all severity not to ever speak to his father, testify about anything good for him. Never eat with him on one table or

alkafi-14638Vol. 7, p. 440

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ لَا يَمِينَ لِوَلَدٍ مَعَ وَالِدِهِ وَ لَا لِمَمْلُوكٍ مَعَ مَوْلَاهُ وَ لَا لِلْمَرْأَةِ مَعَ زَوْجِهَا وَ لَا نَذْرَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ وَ لَا يَمِينَ فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘There is no swearing between a man and his father, a slave and his master, and between a woman and her husband. There is no vow for unlawful matters and

alkafi-14639Vol. 7, p. 440

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ أَيْمَاناً أَنْ يَمْشِيَ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَوْ عِتْقاً أَوْ نَذْراً أَوْ هَدْياً إِنْ هُوَ كَلَّمَ أَبَاهُ أَوْ أُمَّهُ أَوْ أَخَاهُ أَوْ ذَا رَحِمٍ أَوْ قَطْعَ قَرَابَةٍ أَوْ مَأْثَماً فِيهِ يُقِيمُ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ أَمْراً لَا يَصْلُحُ لَهُ فِعْلُهُ فَقَالَ كِتَابُ اللَّهِ قَبْلَ الْيَمِينِ وَ لَا يَمِينَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has taken an oath. He takes an oath to walk to al-Ka’bah or to pay charity or free a slave, vow, or to offer an offering animal if he speaks to his father or mother or his brother or a relative. Alternatively, he takes an oath to cut off relation with re

alkafi-14640Vol. 7, p. 440-441

ادْنِي يَا فُلَانَةُ فَكُلِي مَعِي فَقَالَتْ لَا فَحَلَفَتْ وَ جَعَلَتْ عَلَيْهَا الْمَشْيَ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ وَ عِتْقَ مَا تَمْلِكُ وَ أَلَّا يُظِلَّهَا وَ إِيَّاهَا سَقْفُ بَيْتٍ وَ لَا تَأْكُلَ مَعَهَا عَلَى خِوَانٍ أَبَداً فَقَالَتِ الْأُخْرَى مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ فَحَمَلَ‌ عُمَرُ بْنُ حَنْظَلَةَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع مَقَالَتَهُمَا فَقَالَ أَنَا قَاضٍ فِي ذَا قُلْ لَهَا فَلْتَأْكُلْ وَ لْيُظِلَّهَا وَ إِيَّاهَا سَق

“A woman of the family of al-Mukhtar took an oath against her sister or a relative. She asked her to join her for food but she refused. She then took an oath and made it upon her-self to walk to the house of Allah, free a slave and never to live under one roof with her or eat with her on one table, and the other one di

alkafi-14643Vol. 7, p. 441

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ الْمَشْيُ إِلَى الْكَعْبَةِ إِنِ اشْتَرَيْتُ لِأَهْلِي شَيْئاً بِنَسِيئَةٍ فَقَالَ أَ يَشُقُّ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَشُقُّ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْ لَا يَأْخُذَ لَهُمْ شَيْئاً بِنَسِيئَةٍ قَالَ فَلْيَأْخُذْ لَهُمْ بِنَسِيئَةٍ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the case of a man who says, ‘It is on me to walk to al-Ka’bah if I can buy certain things for my family on credit. He (the Imam) asked, ‘Is that difficult on them?’ I replied, ‘Yes, it is difficult for them not to take for them anything on credit.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He must ta

alkafi-14644Vol. 7, p. 441-442

فِي رَجُلٍ حَلَفَ بِيَمِينٍ أَنْ لَا يَتَكَلَّمَ ذَا قَرَابَةٍ لَهُ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ فَلْيُكَلِّمِ الَّذِي حَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ وَ قَالَ كُلُّ يَمِينٍ لَا يُرَادُ بِهَا وَجْهُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ[1] فِي طَلَاقٍ أَوْ عِتْقٍ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ امْرَأَةٍ جَعَلَتْ مَالَهَا هَدْياً لِبَيْتِ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَعَارَتْ مَتَاعَهَا لِفُلَانَةَ وَ فُلَانَةَ فَأَعَارَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِهَا بِغَيْرِ أَمْرِهَا

“About the case of a man who takes an oath not to speak to a certain relative, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It does not have any valid effect. He must speak to one about whom he has taken an oath not to speak.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Any oath which is not for the sake of Allah does not have any valid effect, wh

alkafi-14646Vol. 7, p. 442

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَحْلِفُ بِالْأَيْمَانِ الْمُغَلَّظَةِ أَنْ لَا يَشْتَرِيَ لِأَهْلِهِ شَيْئاً قَالَ فَلْيَشْتَرِ لَهُمْ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ فِي يَمِينِهِ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who takes an oath very seriously not to buy for his family. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must buy for them and he does not owe anything because of his oath.’”

alkafi-14647Vol. 7, p. 442

وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ قَالَ لِي جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَّمَ نَبِيَّهُ التَّنْزِيلَ وَ التَّأْوِيلَ فَعَلَّمَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلِيّاً ع قَالَ وَ عَلَّمَنَا وَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا صَنَعْتُمْ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَوْ حَلَفْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ يَمِينٍ فِي تَقِيَّةٍ فَأَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ فِي سَعَةٍ.

“By Allah, Ja‘far ibn Muhammad, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, said to me that Allah taught Tamil and Taw’il (what was revealed and what it meant) to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, who taught it to Ali (a.s.).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He by Allah

alkafi-14648Vol. 7, p. 442

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لَا يَمِينَ فِي غَضَبٍ وَ لَا فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ وَ لَا فِي جَبْرٍ وَ لَا فِي إِكْرَاهٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ فَمَا فَرْقٌ بَيْنَ الْإِكْرَاهِ وَ الْجَبْرِ قَالَ الْجَبْرُ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَ يَكُونُ الْإِكْرَاهُ مِنَ الزَّوْجَةِ وَ الْأُمِّ وَ الْأَبِ وَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Taking an oath in anger does not have any valid effect or to cut off relations with relatives, by Jabr (force) or Ikrah (coercion, dislike).’ I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what is the difference between forced and coerced?’ He (the Imam) said,

alkafi-14649Vol. 7, p. 442

قَالَ: لَا يَمِينَ فِي غَضَبٍ وَ لَا فِي قَطِيعَةِ رَحِمٍ وَ لَا فِي إِجْبَارٍ وَ لَا فِي إِكْرَاهٍ قُلْتُ أَصْلَحَكَ اللَّهُ فَمَا الْفَرْقُ بَيْنَ الْإِكْرَاهِ وَ الْإِجْبَارِ قَالَ الْإِجْبَارُ مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ وَ يَكُونُ الْإِكْرَاهُ مِنَ الزَّوْجَةِ وَ الْأُمِّ وَ الْأَبِ وَ لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘An oath in anger or to cut off relations with relatives, by Jabr (force) or Ikrah (coercion, dislike) does not have any valid effect.’ I (the narrator) then asked saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep you well, what is the difference between forced and coerced?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Force

alkafi-14650Vol. 7, p. 442-443

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع إِنِّي كُنْتُ اشْتَرَيْتُ جَارِيَةً سِرّاً مِنِ امْرَأَتِي وَ إِنَّهُ بَلَغَهَا ذَلِكَ فَخَرَجَتْ مِنْ مَنْزِلِي وَ أَبَتْ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ إِلَى مَنْزِلِي فَأَتَيْتُهَا فِي مَنْزِلِ أَهْلِهَا فَقُلْتُ لَهَا إِنَّ الَّذِي‌ بَلَغَكِ بَاطِلٌ وَ إِنَّ الَّذِي أَتَاكِ بِهَذَا عَدُوٌّ لَكِ أَرَادَ أَنْ يَسْتَفِزَّكِ‌[1] فَقَالَتْ لَا وَ اللَّهِ لَا يَكُونُ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ خَيْرٌ أَبَداً

“I once said to abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), that I had bought a slave-girl secretly because of my wife and when she found out she went out of my home and refused to come back. I met her in the house of her people and said that what she has heard is false and the person who has told her is her enemy who wants to remove