بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Oaths in Business and the Expiation (Kaffarah) of Oaths — In the Light of Hadith

Expiation (Kaffarah) for an Oath:

Allah Ta‘ala has said:
”اللہ تعالیٰ لغو (لایعنی) قسموں پر تمہارا مواخذہ نہیں فرماتا، بلکہ وہ ان قسموں پر گرفت کرتا ہے جن کو تم نے مضبوطی سے باندھا ہے، پس اسکا کفارہ دس مسکینوں کو درمیانی درجے کا کھانا کھلانا ہے جو تم اپنے گھر والوں کو کھلاتے ہو یا ان کو کپڑے پہنانا ہے یا ایک گردن آزاد کرنا ہے۔ پس جو اس کی طاقت نہ رکھے، تو وہ تین دن کے روزے رکھے، یہ تمہاری قسموں کا کفارہ ہے، جب تم قسم کھاؤ تو اپنی قسموں کی حفاظت کرو (یعنی انہیں پورا کرو، اگر گناہ کے کام پر نہ ہوں) “۔ (المآئده - ۸۹)

What Are “Laghu” (Unintentional/Vain) Oaths?

“Hazrat ‘A’ishah رضي الله عنها narrates that the Quranic verse mentioned above (المآئده ۔ ۸۹) was revealed concerning a person who, without intention, says repeatedly in conversation: ‘By Allah, yes indeed! By Allah!’” (صحیح بخاری)

From the verses and Hadith studied so far (including previous discussions on oaths), it becomes clear that oaths are of three types:

1. A false oath — its ruling has already been explained.

2. A laghu (unintentional/vain) oath — there is neither sin nor expiation for it.

3. An oath taken with firm intention regarding doing or not doing something — if it is broken, expiation becomes obligatory, as mentioned in the above verse. The Kaffarah for such an oath includes feeding ten needy persons with average-quality food.

Oaths in Business Transactions:

“Hazrat Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrates: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘An oath may cause a sale to increase, but it removes the barakah (blessing) from the earnings.’” (صحیح بخاری ، صحیح مسلم)

When a person swears an oath while selling goods, the sale may increase and occur more quickly; however, this method is not پسندیدہ (approved). Outwardly, it may seem that earnings increase, but barakah is removed from them. Therefore, one should not swear oaths merely to impress customers, even if the statement is true.

“Hazrat Abu Qatadah رضي الله عنه narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Avoid excessive oath-taking in business transactions, for although it may increase sales, it erases barakah.’” (صحیح بخاری)

This conveys the same message. It calls us to reflect: if even truthful oaths can lead to loss of barakah, then those who deceive people and sell their goods by swearing false oaths are committing a far greater sin.