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
وَيَجْعَلُونَ لِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ نَصِيبًا مِّمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ ۗ تَٱللَّهِ لَتُسْـَٔلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنتُمْ تَفْتَرُونَ
And they assign to what they do not know [i.e., false deities] a portion of that which We have provided them. By Allāh, you will surely be questioned about what you used to invent.
وَلَا تَشْتَرُوا۟ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا ۚ إِنَّمَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
And do not exchange the covenant of Allāh for a small price. Indeed, what is with Allāh is best for you, if only you could know.
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّتِى نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَـٰثًا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِىَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allāh only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ.
وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِى كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّسُولًا أَنِ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجْتَنِبُوا۟ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّنْ هَدَى ٱللَّهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ ٱلضَّلَـٰلَةُ ۚ فَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allāh and avoid ṭāghūt." And among them were those whom Allāh guided, and among them were those upon whom error was [deservedly] decreed. So proceed [i.e., travel] through the earth and observe how was the end of the deniers.