لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغْوِ فِىٓ أَيْمَـٰنِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ 225
Translations
Allāh does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He imposes blame upon you for what your hearts have earned. And Allāh is Forgiving and Forbearing.
Transliteration
Lā yu'ākhidhukumu -llāhu bi-l-laghwi fī aymānkum wa-lākin yu'ākhidhukum bimā kasabat qulūbukum wa-llāhu ghafūrun halīm
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that Allah does not hold people accountable for vain or unintentional oaths (laghw - thoughtless words spoken without deliberate intention), but rather He holds them accountable for what their hearts have genuinely intended and earned. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir explain that laghw refers to oaths made without conscious thought or deliberation, such as casual exclamations (e.g., 'by Allah' in everyday conversation), which carry no legal consequence. The ayah emphasizes Allah's divine wisdom in distinguishing between accidental utterances and intentional transgressions, reflecting His attribute as Al-Ghafūr (The Forgiving) and Al-Halīm (The Forbearing).
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed in the Medinan period to address the confusion among Muslims regarding the legal status of casual oaths and unintentional vows. It comes within the broader context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of laws governing oaths and vows (ayahs 2:224-226), clarifying that Islamic jurisprudence distinguishes between intentional and unintentional speech.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (6665): The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said regarding unintentional oaths: 'Allah does not punish you for unintentional oaths, but He punishes you for oaths made with intention of the heart.' Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, the Prophet clarified that laghw in oaths are those spoken without deliberate intent.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims that Allah judges actions based on sincere intention (niyyah) rather than careless words, encouraging believers to guard their hearts and intentions while finding solace in Allah's mercy toward honest mistakes. For modern readers, it reinforces that faith is rooted in heartfelt commitment rather than rigid literalism of speech.