Library Ethics Greater Sins Chapter 20 Eighteenth Greater Sin: False Oath Swearing is Makrūh
Swearing is Makrūh
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Swearing is Makrūh
We have already described the Wajib and Mustahab oaths. Apart from these, in all other situations, it is MakrÅ«h (detestable) to swear. It is irrelevant whether the oath is for something past, present or future. In ordinary situations, for ordinary matters, taking an oath is MakrÅ«h. Swearing for a false thing is certainly HarÄm. It is the command of Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.):
“Do not swear by the name of Allah, whether you are speaking the truth or lying.”
(Furu al-KÄfi)
“Because Allah says in the Holy Qur’an,
“And make not Allah because of your swearing (by Him) an obstacle to your doing good...””
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:224)
Hazrat Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) also says,
“One who swears falsely by Allah for a lie has disbelieved, and one who swear by Allah for truth has sinned, because Allah says: “Do not use Allah for (taking of) your oaths.”
(Furu al-KÄfi)
The above quoted traditions could be simply explained thus:
To swear falsely in the name of Allah (S.w.T.) is definitely a greater sin and one who indulges in a greater sin, falls down from the highest position of Faith. Due to this some amount of disbelief comes to his heart. Imam (a.s.) has also called a true oath a sin and he has used the word “Ithm” (sin). Since it is well known among the Mujtahids that a true oath is MakrÅ«h the word “Ithm” would imply something which is very very undesirable.
