The Ruling on One Who Swore by Allah to a Lie and What is Incumbent Upon Him

Question :

A person says: "If I swore an oath by Allah over some insignificant thing, due to only hastiness and anger, and the oath was not true, and I did not intend the oath, am I considered a sinner or not? And what am I obliged to do after that?

Answer:

If you knew or believed it was most likely that you were telling the truth when you swore the oath, then later it became clear to you that you were not speaking the truth, there is no sin upon you, nor any atonement required, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:

"Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, "

But if you knew or believed it was most likely that you were not speaking the truth when you swore the oath, then you are a sinner, and you must make atonement for an oath, according to the correct opinion. Likewise, if you were in doubt about the thing you swore when you did so, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"Allah will not call you to account for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will call you to account for that which your hearts have earned."

One who intentionally swears to a false oath is among those whose hearts have earned. And His Words:
"Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths."

And one who intentionally swears to a false oath is among those who swear deliberate oaths. And according to the Words of Allah, Most High:
"And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much)."

And one who intentionally swears to a false oath has abused the oath and not kept it. In the Hadith narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Amr, may Allah be pleased with them, he said: "A Bedouin came to the Prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! What are the major sins?" Among them, the Prophet mentioned the false oath.

But if you did not mean to swear an oath and your heart did not intend it, rather it only passed your lips without meaning it, then there is no sin upon you, nor an atonement required, according to the generality of the Words of Allah, Most High:

"Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths."

It is desirable for the Muslim to keep an oath to Allah and not to be hasty in swearing by Him, nor to swear much by Him. He must protect his tongue from lying and he must control himself when he is angry, and turn to Allah in repentance for his sins.

And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muham- mad, and upon his family and Companions.