The Book of Oaths, Vows and Expiations

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ حَلَفَ وَ ضَمِيرُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا حَلَفَ قَالَ الْيَمِينُ عَلَى الضَّمِيرِ.

‘The oath is for that which is in one’s mind.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْلِفُ وَ ضَمِيرُهُ عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا حَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ الْيَمِينُ عَلَى الضَّمِيرِ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who swears but his mind is on something other than that for which he has taken the oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘Swearing is for that which is in one’s mind.’”

لَا يَحْلِفُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَّا عَلَى عِلْمِهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man must not take an oath except for what he knows. 5 ”

لَا يُسْتَحْلَفُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَّا عَلَى عِلْمِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man must not be asked to take an oath except for what he knows.’”

لَا يَحْلِفُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَّا عَلَى عِلْمِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man must not be asked to take an oath except for what he knows.’”

لَا يُسْتَحْلَفُ الرَّجُلُ إِلَّا عَلَى عِلْمِهِ وَ لَا يَقَعُ الْيَمِينُ إِلَّا عَلَى الْعِلْمِ اسْتُحْلِفَ أَوْ لَمْ يُسْتَحْلَفْ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man must not be asked to take an oath except for what he knows and that oath applies only to what he knows, regardless, one is asked to swear or not’”

كُلُّ يَمِينٍ حَلَفْتَ عَلَيْهَا لَكَ فِيهَا مَنْفَعَةٌ فِي أَمْرِ دِينٍ أَوْ دُنْيَا فَلَا شَيْ‌ءَ عَلَيْكَ فِيهَا وَ إِنَّمَا تَقَعُ عَلَيْكَ الْكَفَّارَةُ فِيمَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِ فِيمَا لِلَّهِ مَعْصِيَةٌ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ ثُمَّ تَفْعَلُهُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Any oath that you take and it is for your benefits in the worldly or matters of hereafter, then there is nothing on you. Expiation is payable only when you take an oath in disobedience to Allah if you did not do it then you do it.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَيْسَ كُلُّ يَمِينٍ فِيهَا كَفَّارَةٌ أَمَّا مَا كَانَ مِنْهَا مِمَّا أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ فَفَعَلْتَ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ فِيهَا الْكَفَّارَةُ وَ أَمَّا مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مِمَّا أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ فَفَعَلْتَهُ فَإِنَّ عَلَيْكَ فِيهِ الْكَفَّارَةَ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Every kind of oath does not make one liable to expiation. If the matter is what Allah has made obligatory on you to do and you take an oath not to do it but you do it there is no expiation on you. If it is not of the matters that Allah has made obligatory on you to do and y

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْيَمِينُ الَّتِي تَلْزَمُنِي فِيهَا الْكَفَّارَةُ فَقَالا مَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِمَّا لِلَّهِ فِيهِ طَاعَةٌ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَلَمْ تَفْعَلْهُ فَعَلَيْكَ فِيهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ وَ مَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِمَّا لِلَّهِ فِيهِ الْمَعْصِيَةُ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ تَرْكُهُ وَ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ فِيهِ مَعْصِيَةٌ وَ لَا طَاعَةٌ فَلَيْسَ هُوَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ[1].

“I once asked abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the kind of oath for which I owe expiation. They said, ‘It is when you take an oath for an act in which there is obedience to Allah if you do it and you do not do it, then there is expiation on you. If you take an oath for an act in which there is d

سَأَلْتُهُ عَمَّا يُكَفَّرُ مِنَ الْأَيْمَانِ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ فَفَعَلْتَهُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ إِذَا فَعَلْتَهُ وَ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْكَ وَاجِباً أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ ثُمَّ فَعَلْتَهُ فَعَلَيْكَ الْكَفَّارَةُ.

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of the kind of oath which requires one to pay an expiation. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when you are obligated to do something and you take an oath not to do it but you do it then there is nothing on you when you do it.

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ الَّذِي فِيهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ مِنَ الْأَيْمَانِ فَقَالَ مَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِمَّا فِيهِ الْبِرُّ فَعَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ إِذَا لَمْ تَفِ بِهِ وَ مَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَيْهِ مِمَّا فِيهِ الْمَعْصِيَةُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ فِيهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ إِذَا رَجَعْتَ عَنْهُ وَ مَا كَانَ سِوَى ذَلِكَ مِمَّا لَيْسَ فِيهِ بِرٌّ وَ لَا مَعْصِيَةٌ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the kind of oath that makes expiation obligatory. He (the Imam) said, ‘If you take an oath for doing something which is a virtuous deed, there is expiation if you do not do it. If you take an oath to do something which is an act of disobedience you do not owe anything if you d

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُقْسِمُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ فِي الطَّعَامِ لِيَأْكُلَ فَلَمْ يَطْعَمْ هَلْ عَلَيْهِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَفَّارَةُ وَ مَا الْيَمِينُ الَّتِي تَجِبُ فِيهَا الْكَفَّارَةُ فَقَالَ الْكَفَّارَةُ فِي الَّذِي يَحْلِفُ عَلَى الْمَتَاعِ أَنْ لَا يَبِيعَهُ وَ لَا يَشْتَرِيَهُ ثُمَّ يَبْدُو لَهُ فِيهِ فَيُكَفِّرُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَ إِنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى شَيْ‌ءٍ وَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ إِتْيَانُهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ تَرْكِهِ ف

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who takes an oath for a man to eat food but does not eat; if there is expiation on him and the kind of oath that makes expiation obligatory. He (the Imam) said, ‘Expiation is obligatory when one takes an oath not to sell an asset or buy but then he changes hi

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْأَيْمَانِ وَ النُّذُورِ وَ الْيَمِينِ الَّتِي هِيَ لِلَّهِ طَاعَةٌ فَقَالَ مَا جَعَلَ لِلَّهِ فِي طَاعَةٍ فَلْيَقْضِهِ فَإِنْ جَعَلَ لِلَّهِ شَيْئاً مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَفْعَلْهُ فَلْيُكَفِّرْ يَمِينَهُ وَ أَمَّا مَا كَانَتْ يَمِينٌ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about oath and Nadhr (a commitment) and swearing about that which is an act of obedience to Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘What is an act of obedience you must do it. If one makes a commitment then does not fulfill, one must pay expiation; but if it is an oath in sin, then it does not have

كُلُّ يَمِينٍ حَلَفَ عَلَيْهَا أَنْ لَا يَفْعَلَهَا مِمَّا لَهُ فِيهِ مَنْفَعَةٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَلَا كَفَّارَةَ عَلَيْهِ وَ إِنَّمَا الْكَفَّارَةُ فِي أَنْ يَحْلِفَ الرَّجُلُ وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَزْنِي وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَسْرِقُ وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَخُونُ وَ أَشْبَاهِ هَذَا وَ لَا أَعْصِي ثُمَّ فَعَلَ فَعَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ فِيهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Every act for which one takes an oath not to do it and the act is beneficial in this and in the hereafter, there is no expiation for it. Kaffarah (expiation) becomes obligatory when one takes an oath and says, ‘By Allah I will not commit fornication, by Allah I will not drink wine, by All

سَأَلْتُهُ عَمَّا يُكَفَّرُ مِنَ الْأَيْمَانِ فَقَالَ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ ثُمَّ فَعَلْتَهُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْكَ وَاجِباً أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ ثُمَّ فَعَلْتَهُ فَعَلَيْكَ الْكَفَّارَةُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the kinds of oath for which Kaffarah (expiation) is obligatory. He (the Imam) said, ‘If something is obligatory for you to do and you take an oath not to do it, then you do it, you do not owe anything. If what is not obligatory on you to do and you take an oath not to do it but yo

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْيَمِينُ الَّتِي تَجِبُ فِيهَا الْكَفَّارَةُ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ فَفَعَلْتَهُ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ لِأَنَّ فِعْلَكَ طَاعَةٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَا كَانَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَفْعَلَهُ فَفَعَلْتَهُ فَعَلَيْكَ الْكَفَّارَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The oath that makes expiation obligatory is that which is about an act that is necessary for you to do. However, you take an oath not to do it but you do it. Expiation is not due on you because your act is in obedience to Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. If it is something that yo

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسِيتَ‌[1] قَالَ إِذَا حَلَفَ الرَّجُلُ فَنَسِيَ أَنْ يَسْتَثْنِيَ فَلْيَسْتَثْنِ إِذَا ذَكَرَ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . . speak of your Lord if you forget’ (18:24) abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that if one takes an oath and forgets to make an exception, he must make an exception (say, ‘if Allah wills’) when he remembers.”

فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَمَّا قَالَ لآِدَمَ ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ لَهُ يَا آدَمُ لَا تَقْرَبْ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ قَالَ وَ أَرَاهُ إِيَّاهَا فَقَالَ آدَمُ لِرَبِّهِ كَيْفَ أَقْرَبُهَا وَ قَدْ نَهَيْتَنِي عَنْهَا أَنَا وَ زَوْجَتِي قَالَ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا لَا تَقْرَبَاهَا يَعْنِي لَا تَأْكُلَا مِنْهَا فَقَالَ آدَمُ وَ زَوْجَتُهُ نَعَمْ يَا رَبَّنَا لَا نَقْرَبُهَا وَ لَا نَأْكُلُ مِنْهَا وَ لَمْ يَسْتَثْ

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad and Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father all from ibn Mahbub from abu Ja‘far al-Ahwal from Salam ibn al-Mustanir who has narrated the following: “This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . We made a covenant wi

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسِيتَ‌ قَالَ ذَلِكَ فِي الْيَمِينِ إِذَا قُلْتَ وَ اللَّهِ لَا أَفْعَلُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَإِذَا ذَكَرْتَ أَنَّكَ لَمْ تَسْتَثْنِ فَقُلْ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . speak of your Lord if you forget.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in taking oath when you say, ‘By Allah, I will not do so and so and when you remember that you have forgotten to make an exception then say, ‘i

لِلْعَبْدِ أَنْ يَسْتَثْنِيَ فِي الْيَمِينِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً إِذَا نَسِيَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A servant (of Allah) can make the exception up to forty days if he forgets.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنِ اسْتَثْنَى فِي يَمِينٍ فَلَا حِنْثَ وَ لَا كَفَّارَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘If one makes the exception in taking an oath there is no violation or expiation.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الِاسْتِثْنَاءُ فِي الْيَمِينِ مَتَى مَا ذَكَرَ وَ إِنْ كَانَ بَعْدَ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً ثُمَّ تَلَا هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسِيتَ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘The forgotten exception in taking an oath must be made even if one remembers after forty mornings.’ He (the Imam) then read this verse, . . speak of your Lord if you forget.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ حَلَفَ سِرّاً فَلْيَسْتَثْنِ سِرّاً وَ مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَانِيَةً فَلْيَسْتَثْنِ عَلَانِيَةً.

“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, ‘If one takes an oath privately, he must make the exception privately; and if one takes an oath in public, he must make the exception in public.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ اذْكُرْ رَبَّكَ إِذا نَسِيتَ‌ فَقَالَ إِذَا حَلَفْتَ عَلَى يَمِينٍ وَ نَسِيتَ أَنْ تَسْتَثْنِيَ فَاسْتَثْنِ إِذَا ذَكَرْتَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . speak of your Lord if you forget.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when you take an oath and forget to make the exception (saying if Allah so wills), then you must make the exception when you remember.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ اللَّيْلِ إِذا يَغْشى‌[1] وَ النَّجْمِ إِذا هَوى‌[2] وَ مَا أَشْبَهَ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَنْ يُقْسِمَ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ بِمَا شَاءَ- وَ لَيْسَ لِخَلْقِهِ أَنْ يُقْسِمُوا إِلَّا بِهِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Hammad from Muhammad ibn Muslim who has narrated the following: “This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. . . I swear by the night when it becomes dark. . .’ [92:2] and ‘. . . I swear by the star when it desce

لَا أَرَى أَنْ يَحْلِفَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ فَأَمَّا قَوْلُ الرَّجُلِ لَابَ لِشَانِئِكَ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ قَوْلِ أَهْلِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَ لَوْ حَلَفَ الرَّجُلُ بِهَذَا وَ أَشْبَاهِهِ لَتُرِكَ الْحَلْفُ بِاللَّهِ فَأَمَّا قَوْلُ الرَّجُلِ يَا هَيَاهْ وَ يَا هَنَاهْ فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ لِطَلَبِ الِاسْمِ وَ لَا أَرَى بِهِ بَأْساً وَ أَمَّا قَوْلُهُ لَعَمْرُ اللَّهِ وَ قَوْلُهُ لَا هَاهُ فَإِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ بِاللَّهِ عَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I say that a man must take an oath and swear by Allah only. People’s saying, la’ bal shane ’uka (no, but may your adversary be it) is of the expressions of the people of ignorance. If one takes an oath by such expressions and so on, he has ignored taking an oath by Allah. One’s expres

لَا أَرَى لِلرَّجُلِ أَنْ يَحْلِفَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ وَ قَالَ قَوْلُ الرَّجُلِ حِينَ يَقُولُ لَابَ لِشَانِئِكَ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنْ قَوْلِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَ لَوْ حَلَفَ النَّاسُ بِهَذَا وَ شِبْهِهِ تُرِكَ أَنْ يُحْلَفَ بِاللَّهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I say that a man must take an oath and swear by Allah only. People’s saying, la’ bal shane ’uka (no, but may your adversary be it) is of the expressions of the people of ignorance.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِمَواقِعِ النُّجُومِ‌[1] قَالَ كَانَ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يَحْلِفُونَ بِهَا فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِمَواقِعِ النُّجُومِ‌ قَالَ عَظُمَ أَمْرُ مَنْ يَحْلِفُ بِهَا قَالَ وَ كَانَتِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةُ يُعَظِّمُونَ الْمُحَرَّمَ وَ لَا يُقْسِمُونَ بِهِ وَ لَا بِشَهْرِ رَجَبٍ وَ لَا يَعْرِضُونَ فِيهِمَا لِمَنْ كَانَ فِيهِمَ

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘I do not swear by the places of the stars.’ (56:75) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘People of the community of ignorance swore by the places of stars and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said, “I do not swear by the places of stars.’

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَلا أُقْسِمُ بِمَواقِعِ النُّجُومِ‌ قَالَ أُعَظِّمُ إِثْمَ مَنْ يَحْلِفُ بِهَا قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ يُعَظِّمُونَ الْحَرَمَ وَ لَا يُقْسِمُونَ بِهِ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ حُرْمَةَ اللَّهِ فِيهِ وَ لَا يَعْرِضُونَ لِمَنْ كَانَ فِيهِ وَ لَا يُخْرِجُونَ مِنْهُ دَابَّةً فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى- لا أُقْسِمُ بِهذَا الْبَلَدِ وَ أَنْتَ حِلٌّ بِهذَا الْبَل

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘I do not swear by the places of the stars.’ (56:75) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a great sin on one who swears thereby. The community of ignorance held al-Haram (the sacred area) with greatness. They did not swear

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَهْلِ الْمِلَلِ يُسْتَحْلَفُونَ فَقَالَ لَا تُحْلِفُوهُمْ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about how to make people of the book to take an oath. He (the Imam) said, ’Do not make them to take oath by anything other than Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ هَلْ يَصْلُحُ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحْلِفَ أَحَداً مِنَ الْيَهُودِ وَ النَّصَارَى وَ الْمَجُوسِ بِآلِهَتِهِمْ‌[1] قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يُحْلِفَ أَحَداً إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“I once asked abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is proper to make Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians take an oath by their deities. He (the Imam) said, ’It is not proper for anyone to take oath by anything other than Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع اسْتَحْلَفَ يَهُودِيّاً بِالتَّوْرَاةِ الَّتِي أُنْزِلَتْ عَلَى مُوسَى ع‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘You must make a Jew to take an oath (if needed) by the Torah which was revealed to Musa ‘Alayhi al-Salam .’”

لَا يُحْلَفُ الْيَهُودِيُّ وَ لَا النَّصْرَانِيُّ وَ لَا الْمَجُوسِيُّ بِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِما أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Jews, Christians and Zoroastrian are not made to take an oath by anything other than Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, who says, ‘Judge among them by means of what Allah has revealed.’ (5:52)”

لَا يُحْلَفْ بِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ وَ قَالَ الْيَهُودِيُّ وَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ وَ الْمَجُوسِيُّ لَا تُحْلِفُوهُمْ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘An oath is not taken by anything other than by Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘In the case of Jews, Christians and Zoroastrian, you must not make them to take an oath by anything other than by Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.””

فِي‌ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ يُطْعِمُ عَشَرَةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مُدٌّ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ مُدٌّ مِنْ دَقِيقٍ وَ حَفْنَةٌ[1] أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ‌ لِكُلِّ إِنْسَانٍ ثَوْبَانِ أَوْ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ وَ هُوَ فِي ذَلِكَ بِالْخِيَارِ أَيَّ الثَّلَاثَةِ صَنَعَ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَقْدِرْ عَلَى وَاحِدَةٍ مِنَ الثَّلَاثَةِ فَالصِّيَامُ عَلَيْهِ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ.

“About the case of Kaffarah (expiation) because of oath abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It (expiation) is to feed ten destitute people each with one mud (a certain measurement) or a handful of wheat or flour, or clothe them with two pieces of clothes to each person, or free a slave. He has the choice for any one of t

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ‌[2] مَا حَدُّ مَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ وَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ يَسْأَلُ فِي كَفِّهِ وَ هُوَ يَجِدُ فَقَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ فَضْلٌ عَنْ قُوتِ عِيَالِهِ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ لَا يَجِدُ.

“I once asked abu Ibrahim (a.s.), about the expiation for oath mentioned in the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . if one cannot find then it is three days fasting.’ (5:91) and about the limit of ‘if one cannot find’ and that a man asks for help (beggar) but he is not of ‘if one cannot find’. He (the

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ فَقَالَ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ أَوْ كِسْوَةٌ وَ الْكِسْوَةُ ثَوْبَانِ أَوْ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ أَيَّ ذَلِكَ فَعَلَ أَجْزَأَ عَنْهُ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ‌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٍ وَ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مُدّاً مُدّاً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the expiation because of oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is to set free a slave or clothing with two clothes or feeding ten destitute persons. Whichever of the three he chooses is sufficient, and if he cannot find any of them, then it is three consecutive days of fasting and in

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع‌ قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لِنَبِيِّهِ ص- يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ لِمَ تُحَرِّمُ ما أَحَلَّ اللَّهُ لَكَ‌ قَدْ فَرَضَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ تَحِلَّةَ أَيْمانِكُمْ‌[3] فَجَعَلَهَا يَمِيناً وَ كَفَّرَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص قُلْتُ بِمَا كَفَّرَ قَالَ أَطْعَمَ عَشَرَةَ مَسَاكِينَ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ مُدٌّ قُلْنَا فَمَا حَدُّ الْكِسْوَةِ قَالَ ثَوْبٌ يُوَارِي بِهِ عَوْرَتَهُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said to His Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, ‘O Prophet, why do you make unlawful what Allah has made lawful for you.’ ‘Allah has shown you how to absolve yourselves of

فِي كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ عِتْقُ رَقَبَةٍ أَوْ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ‌ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ ما تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ‌ وَ الْوَسَطُ الْخَلُّ وَ الزَّيْتُ وَ أَرْفَعُهُ الْخُبْزُ وَ اللَّحْمُ وَ الصَّدَقَةُ مُدٌّ مُدٌّ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ لِكُلِّ مِسْكِينٍ وَ الْكِسْوَةُ ثَوْبَانِ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَعَلَيْهِ الصِّيَامُ يَقُولُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ‌[4].

About the case of expiation due to an oath which is freeing a slave, or feeding ten destitute person of the average kind of food for your family or clothing them, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The average kind of food is vinegar and oil, and a high quality is bread and meat. Charity is one mud (a certain measuremen

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَمَّنْ وَجَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْكِسْوَةُ فِي كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ قَالَ ثَوْبٌ يُوَارِي بِهِ عَوْرَتَهُ.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who must clothe the needy because of expiation due to oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘ It is a kind of clothing which can cover his privacy.’”

هُوَ كَمَا يَكُونُ إِنَّهُ يَكُونُ فِي الْبَيْتِ مَنْ يَأْكُلُ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْمُدِّ وَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَأْكُلُ أَقَلَّ مِنَ الْمُدِّ فَبَيْنَ ذَلِكَ وَ إِنْ شِئْتَ جَعَلْتَ لَهُمْ أُدْماً وَ الْأُدْمُ أَدْنَاهُ الْمِلْحُ وَ أَوْسَطُهُ الْخَلُّ وَ الزَّيْتُ وَ أَرْفَعُهُ اللَّحْمُ.

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . it is of the average kind of food that you provide to your family.’ Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is just as it is at home. Certain people eat one mud (a certain measurement) and certain others less or in between. If you like

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَمَّنْ قَالَ وَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَفِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مُدّاً مُدّاً مِنْ دَقِيقٍ أَوْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ تَحْرِيرِ رَقَبَةٍ أَوْ صِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ مُتَوَالِيَاتٍ إِذَا لَمْ يَجِدْ شَيْئاً مِنْ ذَا.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who has said by Allah, but has not remained firm about it. He (the Imam) (a.s.), said, ‘The Kaffarah (expiation) for it is to feed ten destitute people, one mud (a certain measurement) to each one of flour or wheat, or free a slave, or fast for three consecut

فِي كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ مُدٌّ مُدٌّ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ وَ حَفْنَةٌ لِتَكُونَ الْحَفْنَةُ فِي طَحْنِهِ وَ حَطَبِهِ.

“About the Kaffarah (expiation) due to an oath which is one mud (a certain measurement) for each person abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that it must be a handful of food made into flour and cooked.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فِي الْكَفَّارَةِ إِلَّا الرَّجُلَ وَ الرَّجُلَيْنِ فَلْيُكَرِّرْ عَلَيْهِمْ حَتَّى يَسْتَكْمِلَ الْعَشَرَةَ يُعْطِيهِمُ الْيَوْمَ ثُمَّ يُعْطِيهِمْ غَداً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘If one cannot find ten destitute people at one time he can feed fewer people several times like this and in next day until it is equal to feeding ten destitute people.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ فَقَالَ يَصُومُ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ ضَعُفَ عَنِ الصَّوْمِ وَ عَجَزَ قَالَ يَتَصَدَّقُ عَلَى عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ عَجَزَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قَالَ فَلْيَسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ وَ لَا يَعُدْ فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ الْكَفَّارَةِ وَ أَقْصَاهُ وَ أَدْنَاهُ فَلْيَسْتَغْفِرْ رَبَّهُ وَ يُظْهِرُ تَوْبَةً وَ نَدَامَةً.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the Kaffarah (expiation) due to oath. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is fasting for three days.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if one feels weak and cannot do it?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He can give charity to ten destitute people.’ I asked, ‘What happens if he cannot do it?’ He (the Imam) s

لَا يُجْزِئُ إِطْعَامُ الصَّغِيرِ فِي كَفَّارَةِ الْيَمِينِ وَ لَكِنْ صَغِيرَيْنِ بِكَبِيرٍ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said in paying expiation for an oath, feeding small people is not sufficient, however, two small ones are equal to one grown-up person.”’

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ مَا يُطْعِمُ فَلَيْسَ لَهُ أَنْ يَصُومَ يُطْعِمُ عَشَرَةَ مَسَاكِينَ مُدّاً مُدّاً فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ‌.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one is able to feed ten destitute people for expiation of an oath he cannot fast instead. He must feed ten destitute people, one mud (a certain measurement) to each one, and if one cannot do this, then he must fast for three days.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ‌ أَوْسَطِ ما تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ‌ فَقَالَ مَا تَقُوتُونَ بِهِ عِيَالَكُمْ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ ذَلِكَ قُلْتُ وَ مَا أَوْسَطُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ الْخَلُّ وَ الزَّيْتُ وَ التَّمْرُ وَ الْخُبْزُ تُشْبِعُهُمْ بِهِ مَرَّةً وَاحِدَةً قُلْتُ‌ كِسْوَتُهُمْ‌ قَالَ ثَوْبٌ وَاحِدٌ.

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about, ‘. . . the average kind of food that you provide for your family.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the kind of food which you feed your family, it must be of the middle of the two, high and low, quality that you provide for your family.’ I then asked, ‘What is the middle of such food?

إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَيَّ الْمَشْيُ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ مُحْرِمٌ بِحَجَّةٍ أَوْ عَلَيَّ هَدْيُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى يَقُولَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ الْمَشْيُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ أَوْ يَقُولَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أُحْرِمَ بِحَجَّةٍ أَوْ يَقُولَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ هَدْيُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا إِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man says, ‘It is obligatory on me to walk to the house of Allah’ when he is in the state of Ihram for al-Hajj. He may say, ‘It is obligatory on me to offer such and such offering.’ However, he does not owe anything until he says, ‘It is obligatory on me from Allah to walk to His hou

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ عَلَيَّ نَذْرٌ قَالَ لَيْسَ النَّذْرُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى يُسَمِّيَ شَيْئاً لِلَّهِ صِيَاماً أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَوْ هَدْياً أَوْ حَجّاً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says that there is a vow, a commitment on him (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect until one specifies it, like fasting, charity, a gift or al-Hajj.’”