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
۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُ بِٱلْعَدْلِ وَٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ وَإِيتَآئِ ذِى ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَيَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ وَٱلْبَغْىِ ۚ يَعِظُكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, Allāh orders justice and good conduct and giving [help] to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded.
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَكُمْ ثُمَّ يَتَوَفَّىٰكُمْ ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَىْ لَا يَعْلَمَ بَعْدَ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ قَدِيرٌ
And Allāh created you; then He will take you in death. And among you is he who is reversed to the most decrepit [old] age so that he will not know, after [having had] knowledge, a thing. Indeed, Allāh is Knowing and Competent.
وَأَوْفُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ إِذَا عَـٰهَدتُّمْ وَلَا تَنقُضُوا۟ ٱلْأَيْمَـٰنَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِهَا وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
And fulfill the covenant of Allāh when you have taken it, [O believers], and do not break oaths after their confirmation while you have made Allāh, over you, a security [i.e., witness]. Indeed, Allāh knows what you do.
وَٱصْبِرْ وَمَا صَبْرُكَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَا تَحْزَنْ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا تَكُ فِى ضَيْقٍ مِّمَّا يَمْكُرُونَ
And be patient, [O Muḥammad], and your patience is not but through Allāh. And do not grieve over them and do not be in distress over what they conspire.