The Ruling on One Who Swore Upon a Copy of the Qur'an to a Lie

Question :

A person swore upon a copy of the Qur'ân to a lie during the days of his childhood, i.e., he was fifteen years of age. But he regretted that after he had reached the age of maturity and he knew that this is forbidden by the Islamic Law. Is there any sin or atonement upon him?

Answer:

This question consists of two issues; the first issue is swearing on a copy of the Qur'an, in order to confirm the oath; and I know of no basis in the Sunnah for this formula, so it is not lawful.

As for the second issue, it is that he swore to a lie and he knew that, and this is a great sin for which he must turn in repentance to Allah. Indeed, some of the scholars say that this is a false oath, which submerges the perpetrator into itself, and then he will be submerged in the Fire.

If this oath was made after he reached the age of maturity, then he will be considered a sinner and he must repent to Allah. There is no atonement upon him, because atonement is only for oaths about things in the future. As for oaths about things in the past, there is no atonement for them. Rather a person is either being sinful therein or not sinful. So if he swore to a lie and he knew that it was a lie, then he is a sinner, and if he swore to something which he knew, or believed was most likely the truth, then he is not guilty of sin.

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