Oaths

At a glance

Taking an oath in the name of Allah is one of the weightiest speech acts a human being can make. In Islamic teachings, an oath ties your spoken word directly to the majesty of the Creator, turning ordinary speech into a binding moral and legal commitment. Because words possess real weight before Allah, invoking His name requires deep reverence, truthful intent, and faithful fulfillment.

Throughout the Quran, Allah Himself takes oaths by His divine self and by His magnificent creations: such as the stars, time, the winds, and the sacred dawn. These divine oaths serve as powerful rhetorical instruments designed to arrest human attention, dissolve stubborn doubt, and establish core truths regarding monotheism, the certainty of the Last Day, and the truth of revelation.

Studying how the Quran addresses oaths teaches you to respect the sanctity of speech. It clarifies the boundaries between thoughtless phrases, deliberate binding pledges, and destructive falsehoods, showing believers how to uphold commitments and make amends through prescribed expiation when an oath cannot be kept.

Key verses

1. Al-Hijr 15:92: Allah swears by His own majesty as the Lord that every human being will be thoroughly questioned regarding all they used to do in this life.
2. Al-Ma'idah 5:89: Allah distinguishes between unintentional oath slips and binding oaths resolved in the heart, detailing the exact, compassionate expiation required when a binding oath is broken.
3. Al-Anbiya 21:57: Prophet Ibrahim uses the emphatic oath particle 'ta' to express his solemn, unshakeable determination to expose the helplessness of man-made idols.
4. An-Nisa 4:65: Allah swears by Himself that people do not attain true faith until they willingly accept the Prophet's judgment in their disputes without internal resistance.
5. Ali 'Imran 3:186: An example of an implicit oath where Allah foretells with unyielding certainty that believers will inevitably face tests in their wealth and personal lives.
6. Yunus 10:53: The Prophet is commanded to swear by his Lord to confirm to skeptical listeners that the promised resurrection and final judgment are absolute truth.
7. Adh-Dhariyat 51:1: Allah swears by the swift scattering winds, drawing attention to cosmic forces as living proof of His limitless power and the truth of resurrection.
8. Al-Hashr 59:12: An implicit Quranic oath exposing the hollow promises of hypocrites who swear alliance to others but flee whenever genuine sacrifice is demanded.
9. Al-Hijr 15:72: A unique divine oath sworn by the earthly life of Prophet Muhammad, highlighting his exalted status and honour in the sight of Allah.
10. Adh-Dhariyat 51:23: Allah swears by the Lord of the heavens and the earth that divine promises of sustenance and resurrection are as undeniable as human speech itself.

Words to know

القسم `al-qasam`

Binding one's will to perform or refrain from an action through invoking something venerated in truth or belief; used in the Quran to emphasize divine truths and solemn human covenants.

Appears 33 times in the Quran.

Most common forms: أَقْسَمُ (20), قِسْمَة (3), قَسَمْ (2), قَسَم (2), تَسْتَقْسِمُ (1)

Root: ق س م

الحلف `al-halif`

Swearing a pact or oath that cuts off dispute and establishes close allegiance between parties.

Root: ح ل ف

اليمين `al-yamin`

A sworn vow that strengthens a person's inner resolve to do or avoid something, named after the right hand used when sealing pacts.

Root: ي م ن

الميثاق `al-mithaq`

A reinforced covenant or solemn pledge confirmed through threats or binding oaths to guarantee faithful fulfillment.

Root: و ث ق

الحنث `al-hinth`

Falling into sin and moral blame by deliberately violating a sworn oath or persisting in grave wrongdoing.

Root: ح ن ث

النقض `al-naqd`

The unraveling, breaking, or nullification of a built commitment, contract, or binding obligation.

Root: ن ق ض

النكث `al-nakth`

The breach or repudiation of a covenant, metaphorically likened to unravelling twisted strands of thread after they were spun strong.

Root: ن ك ث

Types of oaths in the Quran

From the paper: «أنواع القسم في القرآن»

The Quran distinguishes three broad categories of oaths, each carrying distinct moral and legal consequences.

The first is the unconsidered oath: اليمين اللغو al-yamin al-laghw. This includes casual speech that rolls off the tongue during conversation without real intention to swear (such as saying 'no, by Allah' or 'yes, by Allah'), or an oath sworn in good faith upon a personal belief that later turns out to be mistaken. Because Allah judges the deliberate intent of the heart, this category incurs neither sin nor any required expiation Al-Baqarah 2:225, Al-Ma'idah 5:89.

The second is the binding oath: اليمين المنعقدة al-yamin al-mun'aqidah. This is a deliberate, conscious vow directed toward a future action or abstinence Al-Ma'idah 5:89. To be valid, it must be uttered by a sane adult invoking Allah's name or attributes. A person may fulfill it, break it and offer expiation, or condition it from the start by saying 'if Allah wills.' If broken, expiation is strictly required.

The third is the perjury oath: اليمين الغموس al-yamin al-ghamus. This is swearing falsely about a past event while knowingly lying. Called ghamus because it submerges the liar into deep sin and the Fire, it is among the greatest sins, often used by hypocrites to conceal betrayal Al-Mujadilah 58:14-18 or fraudulently seize another person's property. The majority of scholars hold that ordinary expiation cannot erase such a monumental crime: it demands deep, trembling repentance, restitution of stolen rights, and seeking Allah's mercy.

Forms of oaths

From the paper: «صيغ القسم»

The Quran presents oaths through rich linguistic styles, classified primarily into explicit and implicit forms.

Explicit oaths: القسم الصريح al-qasam al-sarih: use clear verbs of swearing paired with oath particles such as the prepositional letters ba, waw, or ta. In Arabic, ba is the original oath particle because it connects the act of swearing directly to the object sworn by. The letter waw is used frequently in Quranic oaths sworn by divine creations Ya-Sin 36:2, Adh-Dhariyat 51:1-5, while the letter ta is reserved specifically for the name of Allah, often signaling amazement at a bold act, such as Prophet Ibrahim's declaration against idols Al-Anbiya 21:57.

Implicit oaths: القسم المضمر al-qasam al-mudmar: leave out both the verb of swearing and the object sworn by, yet their presence is unmistakably conveyed through emphatic linguistic markers. Frequent markers include the corroborating prefix la- or the combination laqad and la'in Ali 'Imran 3:186, Al-Hashr 59:12. Expressions like la'amruka swear by a life Al-Hijr 15:72, while calling Allah as witness also serves as an implicit oath Hud 11:54.

Additionally, the Quran uses the intriguing phrasing la uqsimu (I swear not / Nay, I swear) An-Nisa 4:65, Al-Waqi'ah 56:75, Al-Qiyamah 75:1-2. While some early readers wondered if this negated the oath, major commentators explain it as an emphatic confirmation of the oath, either opening with a rejection of falsehood before swearing, or intensifying the solemnity of what follows Al-Waqi'ah 56:76.

The one swearing the oath

From the paper: «أولًا: المقسم»

Every oath recorded in the Quran originates from a specific speaker, reflecting varying spiritual conditions and intents.

The vast majority of Quranic oaths are sworn by Allah Himself. As the sovereign Creator, Allah may swear by whatever He wills in His creation to elevate truths and command reverence. He swears by His own glorious self An-Nisa 4:65, Al-Hijr 15:92, Adh-Dhariyat 51:23, and He swears by the life of His noble messenger Al-Hijr 15:72.

Oaths are also sworn by the messengers of Allah. In some cases, prophets swear spontaneously out of deep conviction, such as Ibrahim's pledge against false deities Al-Anbiya 21:57 or Musa's declarations Al-Kahf 18:71. In other passages, Allah explicitly commands the Prophet Muhammad to swear by his Lord to silence those who deny the resurrection Yunus 10:53, Saba 34:3, At-Taghabun 64:7.

The Quran also recounts oaths taken by believers, such as the sons of Adam Al-Ma'idah 5:28, the youths of the Cave Al-Kahf 18:14, and witnesses or spouses offering formal testimony under oath Al-Ma'idah 5:106-107, An-Nur 24:6-9.

Conversely, the Quran records the false and reckless oaths of disbelievers and hypocrites. Hypocrites habitually use sacred oaths as shields to mask their conspiracies and evade their social duties At-Tawbah 9:42, At-Tawbah 9:56, Al-Hashr 59:12. Even Iblis used oaths, swearing by Allah's own might to misguide humanity Sad 38:82, demonstrating that the mere sound of an oath means nothing without submission and sincerity.

That by which the oath is sworn

From the paper: «ثانيًا: المقسم به»

The object invoked in an oath holds great significance. Because swearing by something signifies its ultimate honor, human beings are strictly forbidden from swearing by anything other than Allah, His divine self, and His sublime attributes.

Allah, however, possesses the sole right to swear by whatever He pleases. In the Quran, He swears by His own divine self Adh-Dhariyat 51:23, by His holy speech and book Qaf 50:1, and by magnificent signs within His universe Adh-Dhariyat 51:1. He swears by celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars; by atmospheric forces like winds and clouds; by momentous times such as dawn, morning brightness, and the passage of time; and by sacred spaces like Mecca and Mount Sinai.

Scholars explain that when Allah swears by created wonders, it serves to highlight their nobility, their extraordinary service to humanity, and their irrefutable witness to the infinite wisdom and oneness of their Maker. Swearing by things that change, like the alternating day and night, reminds us that the universe is governed by an all-powerful Creator.

When multiple objects are conjoined in a single Quranic oath series, they often describe different aspects of a unified reality, such as diverse ranks of angels executing divine commands As-Saffat 37:1-4, drawing our minds toward the harmony and grandeur of Allah's cosmic order.

Subject of the oath

From the paper: «ثالثًا: المقسم عليه»

The subject of an oath: المقسم عليه al-muqsam 'alayh: is the statement or truth that the oath comes to reinforce. In the Quran, divine oaths are never sworn lightly; they always underline the foundational pillars of Islamic belief.

These subjects include:

• Pure monotheism: confirming that there is only one true God deserving of worship As-Saffat 37:1-5.
• The authenticity of prophethood: vindicating Prophet Muhammad against malicious accusations of madness and confirming that he acts solely on divine revelation Al-Qalam 68:1-2, An-Najm 53:1-4.
• The certainty of the Hereafter: establishing beyond doubt that humanity will be gathered, questioned, and recompensed Adh-Dhariyat 51:1-6, Al-Hijr 15:92.
• The supreme value of the Quran: swearing that it is an honorable, preserved revelation sent down as a guiding mercy Az-Zukhruf 43:2-3.
• Divine moral realities: affirming that ultimate success belongs to those who purify their souls, while ruin awaits those who corrupt them, and that divine help will surely support the righteous An-Nur 24:55, Al-Layl 92:1-4.

In rare instances, the explicit response to the oath is omitted when the context makes it obvious, or when the object sworn by is so exalted that it is itself the subject of honor Sad 38:1.

Purposes of oaths in the Quran

From the paper: «أغراض القسم في القرآن»

In Arabic rhetoric, an oath is one of the strongest methods for confirming a statement. It is addressed especially to those who are hesitant, doubtful, or obstinately denying the truth. Through Quranic oaths, Allah accomplishes several vital spiritual and intellectual purposes.

First, they confirm hidden, unseen realities: such as resurrection, accountability, and divine recompense: removing lingering doubts and establishing clear proof in human hearts Al-Hijr 15:92.

Second, they demonstrate the lofty status of the objects sworn by. Swearing by the lifespan of Prophet Muhammad honors his standing above all creation Al-Hijr 15:72, while swearing by the Quran highlights its unmatched majesty Qaf 50:1.

Third, they guide our reflection toward cosmic signs. By swearing by celestial bodies, seasons, and natural elements At-Tin 95:1-3, Allah urges us to ponder their precise functions, leading our intellect to recognize the power and kindness of their Creator.

Fourth, they establish the truthfulness of the Messenger. When the Prophet was commanded to swear by his Lord regarding the coming judgment Yunus 10:53, his absolute steadfastness and success proved that his oaths were grounded in divine reality, since false oaths inevitably ruin their claimants.

Finally, oaths correct misguided beliefs: such as idolizing the stars: by presenting them as transient, dependent creations subject to the will of Allah.

Expiation of oaths

From the paper: «كفارة القسم»

When a believer makes a deliberate, binding oath and subsequently breaks it, Islamic law prescribes a clear and compassionate path to make amends.

A person is freed from the liability of a binding oath in one of three ways: fulfilling the oath, offering the prescribed expiation, or qualifying the oath at the moment of swearing by saying 'if Allah wills' (in sha' Allah). Expiation is valid whether undertaken shortly before the actual breach or immediately after it.

The Quran outlines this expiation in Surah al-Ma'idah Al-Ma'idah 5:89. It begins with a choice between three options:

• Feeding ten poor persons with standard, wholesome food comparable to what you feed your own family.
• Providing suitable clothing for ten poor persons.
• Freeing a slave.

Scholars note that feeding was mentioned first because it addresses an urgent, universal human need. The recipients must be poor, free individuals who receive the assistance directly.

Only when an individual genuinely lacks the financial means to fulfill any of these three primary options does the ruling shift to fasting three days Al-Ma'idah 5:89. Scholars emphasize that fasting is an ordered alternative, not a first choice. Through this balance of accountability and charity, Islam ensures that oaths are not broken flippantly while keeping open a practical door to forgiveness.

Takeaways

1. Purify Your Tongue from Casual Oaths

   Habitual swearing diminishes the reverence due to Allah's name. Strive to speak straightforwardly without peppering ordinary banter with careless oaths, honoring Allah by keeping His name above mundane disputes.

2. Never Swear by Created Things

   While Allah may swear by whichever of His creations He pleases, human beings must swear only by Allah or His divine attributes. Swearing by parents, ancestors, or sacred creations is forbidden because ultimate majesty belongs to Allah alone.

3. Attach Sincere Intentions to Your Pledges

   When you make a serious pledge, anchor it with the condition 'if Allah wills' (in sha' Allah). This practice preserves humility, acknowledges your dependence on divine decree, and protects you from breaking oaths heedlessly.

4. Beware the Destructive Perjury of False Oaths

   Never use an oath to deceive others or unlawfully secure money, property, or status. The perjury oath (al-yamin al-ghamus) ruins communities, destroys trust, and brings severe divine anger that regular charity cannot easily wipe away.

5. Follow the Proper Order in Expiation

   If you break a binding oath, remember that expiation begins with feeding or clothing ten needy people if you have the means. Fasting three days is only permitted when you are genuinely unable to afford the charitable options.

Reflect

• How often do casual phrases invoking Allah's name slip into your daily conversation without mindful intention?
• When you make a promise or solemn commitment to family or colleagues, do you treat your word with the sanctity the Quran demands?
• When reading the Quran, do you pause to reflect on the majestic signs Allah swears by, like the dawn, the night, and the winds?
• If you have ever made a rash oath in anger or haste, have you sought forgiveness and properly fulfilled any required expiation?

Go deeper

Linguistic meaning

Linguistically, the root q-s-m signifies beauty and portioning. An oath (qasam) is synonymous with halif and yamin, deriving historically from qasamah: the solemn oaths distributed among the kin of a slain person to claim their legal right.

Technical meaning

An oath is tying one's inner resolve to perform or refrain from an action by invoking something truly or belief-wise venerated by the speaker.

How it differs from related terms

الحلف Swearing / Pledging

Linguistically rooted in constancy and mutual clinging, halif carries the specific function of cutting off dispute through an oath. Al-Qasam is broader and more emphatic than al-halif, because al-qasam implies both repelling the adversary and securing the rightful claim.

اليمين The Right-Hand Oath

Linguistically named after the right hand because the Arabs would grasp each other's right hands when making an alliance. In technical usage, it is a covenant that reinforces the swearer's determination to act or refrain, functioning as a practical synonym for al-qasam.

الميثاق The Solemn Covenant

Derived from firmness and binding trust, al-mithaq is a formal mutual contract between two parties that is specifically reinforced with a threat or a sworn oath. Thus, al-qasam is broader than al-mithaq, since every mithaq contains an oath, but not every oath is a bilateral covenant.

الحنث Sinful Breach / Perjury

Linguistically meaning sin and wrongdoing. In relation to an oath, al-hinth is the direct opposite of al-qasam: while an oath obligates the self to fulfill a commitment, al-hinth is the violation and breaking of that very obligation.

النقض Nullification / Unraveling

Linguistically meaning the demolition of a building or the undoing of a twisted rope. Where al-qasam binds the person to an action, al-naqd is the dissolution and annulment of that binding commitment, standing as its direct contradiction.

النكث Repudiation / Breach

Linguistically untwisting a woven rope or thread so it becomes frayed. In technical terms, it is the deliberate breach and dismantling of an established pact or oath, acting as an antonym to the binding nature of al-qasam.

Every verse in the paper

All 198 verses the research paper discusses, grouped under its own headings.

Oaths in Quranic usage «القسم في الاستعمال القرآني»

7:49, 56:75, 27:49, 89:5

Types of oaths in the Quran «أنواع القسم في القرآن»

Inadvertent oaths «أولًا: اليمين اللغو»

2:225, 5:89, 5:87

Binding oaths «ثانيًا: اليمين المنعقدة»

5:106

Perjurious oaths «ثالثًا: اليمين الغموس»

58:14-18, 56:46

Forms of oaths «صيغ القسم»

6:23, 21:57, 3:186, 19:71, 35:42, 31:13, 57:8, 2:63, 4:62, 6:109, 9:42, 9:56, 16:38, 24:53, 4:65, 6:30, 10:53, 12:73, 15:92, 16:63, 19:68, 34:3, 36:1-3, 37:1-4, 37:56, 38:1, 43:2-3, 44:2-3, 46:34, 50:1, 51:1-5, 53:1-2, 64:7, 68:1-2, 77:1-7, 91:1-10, 93:1-3, 2:65, 3:143, 7:10, 12:7, 20:115, 37:171, 53:13, 59:12, 63:8, 96:15, 15:72, 24:8, 11:54, 56:75, 69:38, 70:40, 75:1-2, 81:15, 84:16, 90:1, 56:76

Pillars of oaths «أركان القسم»

The one swearing the oath «أولًا: المقسم»

4:65, 15:92, 16:56, 19:68, 51:23, 15:72, 7:189, 21:54, 21:57, 6:77, 17:102, 18:62, 18:71, 18:74, 38:24, 10:53, 34:3, 64:7, 5:28, 12:14, 12:73, 12:85, 12:91, 12:95, 7:149, 37:56, 18:14, 30:56, 26:97-98, 6:22-23, 6:30, 46:34, 25:29, 6:109, 16:38, 24:53, 35:42, 23:82-83, 27:68, 6:63, 21:65, 19:46, 7:90, 26:167, 12:32, 7:134, 26:29, 26:44, 19:27, 27:49, 18:36, 5:106-107, 24:6-9, 4:62, 9:75, 9:42, 9:95, 9:56, 59:12, 9:62, 9:74, 15:39, 17:62, 38:82

That by which the oath is sworn «ثانيًا: المقسم به»

51:1, 51:23, 15:92-93, 38:82, 7:16, 15:39, 26:44

Subject of the oath «ثالثًا: المقسم عليه»

38:1, 37:1-5, 68:1-2, 15:6, 40:78, 11:25, 11:96, 27:45, 57:26, 51:1-6, 7:6, 52:1-8, 53:1-4, 2:99, 2:87, 23:49, 4:54, 24:55, 40:51, 37:171-173, 59:12-13, 15:26-27, 23:12, 50:16, 92:1-4, 4:65, 100:1-8, 51:23, 15:92-93

Purposes of oaths in the Quran «أغراض القسم في القرآن»

15:72, 50:1, 95:2-3, 95:1, 10:53

Expiation of oaths «كفارة القسم»

2:225, 5:89

About this source

Volume

14

Research paper

«القسم» (Oaths)

Read the full paper (Arabic)

Encyclopedia of Thematic Tafsir of the Noble Quran, published by the Tafsir Center for Quranic Studies.

This study guide summarizes the Arabic research paper. For full scholarly detail, refer to the original. This preview has not been reviewed yet.

Related topics

• Expiations الكفارات
• Fulfillment الوفاء