وَلَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ فَتَزِلَّ قَدَمٌۢ بَعْدَ ثُبُوتِهَا وَتَذُوقُوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِمَا صَدَدتُّمْ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 94
Translations
And do not take your oaths as [means of] deceit between you, lest a foot slip after it was [once] firm, and you would taste evil [in this world] for what [people] you diverted from the way of Allāh, and you would have [in the Hereafter] a great punishment.
Transliteration
Wa lā tattakhidhū aymānakum dakhalān baynakum fataziila qadamun ba'da thubūtihā wa tadhūqū as-sū'a bimā sadadtum 'an sabīli -llāhi wa lakum 'adhābun 'adhīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns against using oaths (oaths) as a means of deception or as a pretext to harm others and violate agreements among yourselves. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the prohibition targets those who swear falsely or break their oaths for material gain or to oppress others. The verse warns that such actions will cause one's feet to slip from the path of guidance, leading to tasting the evil consequences of turning away from Allah's way, with a severe punishment awaiting those who persist in this transgression.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period when the community faced economic and social pressures. The verse addresses the broader Meccan context where false oaths and commercial deception were prevalent practices, warning believers against adopting the corrupt ethical standards of pre-Islamic Arabian society.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The greatest sins are to associate partners with Allah, to disobey parents, and to make a false oath.' (Sahih Bukhari 2654). Additionally, the Prophet warned: 'Whoever takes a false oath to deprive a Muslim of his property will meet Allah while He is angry with him.' (Sahih Muslim 1657)
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers must guard their oaths with utmost sincerity and honesty, understanding that false or broken oaths undermine social trust and spiritual standing before Allah. Let this ayah inspire careful introspection about our commitments and promises, recognizing that integrity in our word is both a moral obligation and a means of maintaining our spiritual stability.
Related Ayahs
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ لَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ مَا عَبَدْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ نَّحْنُ وَلَآ ءَابَآؤُنَا وَلَا حَرَّمْنَا مِن دُونِهِۦ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ فَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ فَهَلْ عَلَى ٱلرُّسُلِ إِلَّا ٱلْبَلَـٰغُ ٱلْمُبِينُ
And those who associate others with Allāh say, "If Allāh had willed, we would not have worshipped anything other than Him, neither we nor our fathers, nor would we have forbidden anything through other than Him." Thus did those do before them. So is there upon the messengers except [the duty of] clear notification?
لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ
Assuredly, Allāh knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant.