Library Ethics Greater Sins Chapter 20 Eighteenth Greater Sin: False Oath Mustahab oath
Mustahab oath
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Mustahab oath
There are situations where it is Mustahab to take an oath or to refrain from doing so. In case of very insignificant property belonging to oneself or to another Muslim it is not Wajib to swear. In this case it will be Mustahab to do so. Property that is usually considered insignificant is worth thirty Dirhams or less.
Zurara asked Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.): “The oppressive rulers forcefully collect taxes from us. Can we swear falsely that we have nothing to give tax on when it is not possible to save our money without swearing falsely?”
Imam (a.s.) said,
“Take such oaths! Such oaths are more sweet than dates and butter.”
(Wasa’il ul-Shia)
However if the property is not worth much, especially if its value is less than thirty Dirhams, then it is Mustahab not to swear falsely, even if it may be necessary to save oneself from the oppressor.
Hazrat Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has quoted the following tradition from the Holy Prophet (S):
“Respecting the Greatness of Allah if one refrains from swearing, Allah shall give him much better than whatever he has lost.”
(Furu al-KÄfi)
Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) says:
“If there is claim against you regarding some property and the claimant does not have any right upon you, and desires to make you take an oath, then if the claim is for something worth less than thirty Dirhams, hand it over to him and do not take an oath. But if it is worth more than thirty Dirhams, take the oath and do not give him anything.”
(Furu al-KÄfi)
The Holy Prophet (S) says:
“If a person takes his debtor (or one who owes him something) to the court of the ruler; and the king asks him to swear; and knowing that he is on the right he respects the Greatness of Allah and refrains from swearing, then on the Day of QiyÄma Allah shall not desire for him a position less than that of Hazrat IbrahÄ«m (a.s.).”
