Surah Maidah ayat 89 Tafsir Quran 5:89

﴿لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الْأَيْمَانَ ۖ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ۚ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾
[ المائدة: 89]

5:89 Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.

God will not take you to task for a slip contained in your oaths which is what the tongue utters spontaneously without intending to swear an oath such as when one says ‘No by God’ or ‘Yes by God’; but He will take you to task for that to which you have pledged read ‘aqadtum ‘aqqadttum or ‘āqadttum oaths where you have sworn an oath intentionally; the expiation thereof of the oath if you break it is the feeding of ten of the needy for each needy person one mudd measure of the midmost food from which you feed your families that is the closest or the principal food you consume neither better nor worse; or the clothing of them with what may be properly called clothes such as a shirt a turban or a loin cloth — it is not sufficient that these items mentioned be given only to one needy person according to al-Shāfi‘ī; or the setting free of a believing slave as applies in the expiation for slaying or repudiation through zihār interpreting the general stipulation in a restricted sense; and whoever does not find the means for any one of the expiations mentioned then the fasting of three days as an expiation for him — as it appears in this verse it is not obligatory to follow the above sequence of alternatives when making an expiation and this is the opinion of al-Shāfi‘ī. That which is mentioned is the expiation of your oaths if you have sworn and have broken them; but keep your oaths do not break them unless it be for a righteous deed or setting right between people as stated in the verse of sūrat al-Baqara Q. 2225. So in the same way that He has explained to you what has been mentioned God makes clear to you His signs so that you might be thankful to Him for this.

Allah excuses you for oaths in which the guilt does not reside in the intention, but He holds you responsible for the oaths in which guilt resides in the intention, an affront nothing can expiate but

Unintentional Oaths We mentioned the subject of unintentional oaths in Surat Al-Baqarah, all praise and thanks are due to Allah, and so we do not need to repeat it here.
We also mentioned that the Laghw in oaths refers to one's saying, "No by Allah," or, "Yes, by Allah," unintentionally. Expiation for Breaking the Oaths Allah said, وَلَـكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الاٌّيْمَـنَ ( but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths. ) in reference to the oaths that you intend in your hearts, فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـكِينَ ( for its expiation (a deliberate oath ) feed ten poor,), who are needy, not able to find necessities of the life.
Allah's statement, مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ ( on a scale of the Awsat of that with which you feed your own families; ) means, "On the average scale of what you feed your families," according to Ibn `Abbas, Sa`id bin Jubayr and `Ikrimah.
`Ata' Al-Khurasani commented on the Ayah, "From the best of what you feed your families".
Allah's statement, أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ ( or clothe them, ) refers to clothing each of the ten persons with what is suitable to pray in, whether the poor person was male or female.
Allah knows best.
Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah means a robe or garment for each poor person ( of the ten ).
Mujahid also said that the least of clothing, referred to in the Ayah, is a garment, and the most is whatever you wish.
Al-Hasan, Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir, `Ata', Tawus, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Hammad bin Abi Sulayman and Abu Malik said that it means ( giving each of the ten poor persons ) a garment each.
Allah's statement, أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ ( or free a slave ) refers to freeing a believing slave.
In the Muwatta' of Malik, the Musnad of Ash-Shafi`i and the Sahih of Muslim, a lengthy Hadith was recorded that `Umar bin Al-Hakam As-Sulami said that he once had to free a slave ( as atonement ) and he brought a black slave girl before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , who asked her;
«أَيْنَ اللهُ؟»
( Where is Allah ) She said, "Above the heavens." He said,
«مَنْ أَنَا؟»
( Who am I ) She said, "The Messenger of Allah." He said,
«أَعْتِقْهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَة»
( Free her, for she is a believer. ) There are three types of expiation for breaking deliberate oaths, and whichever one chooses, it will suffice, according to the consensus ( of the scholars ).
Allah mentioned the easiest, then the more difficult options, since feeding is easier than giving away clothes, and giving away clothes is easier than freeing a slave.
If one is unable to fulfill any of these options, then he fasts for three days for expiation, just as Allah said, فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ( But whosoever cannot afford (that ), then he should fast for three days.) Ubayy bin Ka`b and Ibn Mas`ud and his students read this Ayah as follows, "Then he should fast three consecutive days." Even if this statement was not narrated to us as a part of the Qur'an through Mutawatir narration, it would still be an explanation of the Qur'an by the Companions that has the ruling of being related from the Prophet .
Allah's statement, ذلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَـنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ( That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. )5:89 means, this is the legal way to atone for deliberate oaths, وَاحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَـنَكُمْ ( And protect your oaths. ) Do not leave your broken oaths without paying the expiation for them, according to the meaning given by Ibn Jarir. كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَـتِهِ ( Thus Allah makes clear to you His Ayat ) and explains them to you, لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ( that you may be grateful. )

(5:89) Allah does not take you to task for the oaths you utter vainly, but He will certainly take you to task for the oaths you have sworn in earnest. The expiation (for breaking such oaths) is either to feed ten needy persons with more or less the same food as you are wont to give to your families, or to clothe them, or to set free from bondage the neck of one man; and he who does not find the means shall fast for three days. This shall be the expiation for your oaths whenever you have sworn (and broken them.) *106 But do keep your oaths. *107 Thus does Allah make clear to you His commandments; maybe you will be grateful.

Allah will not impose blame upon you meaning

*106).
Since some people had taken an oath prohibiting for themselves the things which He had permitted, God laid down this injunction regarding oaths made inadvertently.
The injunction makes it unnecessary to feel bound by the terms of inadvertent oaths, and for which one will not be reproached by God.
And if a person had deliberately made an oath which entails sin he should not abide by his oath and should expiate it ( see Towards Understanding the Qur'an, vol.
I, Surah 2, nn.
243-4; for expiation see Surah 4, n.
125 above ).

*107).
To be mindful of one's oaths has several meanings.
First, one should make proper use of oaths and should not employ them either frivolously or sinfully.
Second, when a person takes an oath, he should take care not to forget it lest he be led to break it.
Third, when a man deliberately takes an oath regarding something sound in itself he should pay the penalty if he happens to violate it.

 

Unintentional Oaths We mentioned the subject of unintentional oaths in Surat Al-Baqarah, all praise and thanks are due to Allah, and so we do not need to repeat it here.
We also mentioned that the Laghw in oaths refers to one's saying, "No by Allah," or, "Yes, by Allah," unintentionally. Expiation for Breaking the Oaths Allah said, وَلَـكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الاٌّيْمَـنَ ( but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths. ) in reference to the oaths that you intend in your hearts, فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـكِينَ ( for its expiation (a deliberate oath ) feed ten poor,), who are needy, not able to find necessities of the life.
Allah's statement, مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ ( on a scale of the Awsat of that with which you feed your own families; ) means, "On the average scale of what you feed your families," according to Ibn `Abbas, Sa`id bin Jubayr and `Ikrimah.
`Ata' Al-Khurasani commented on the Ayah, "From the best of what you feed your families".
Allah's statement, أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ ( or clothe them, ) refers to clothing each of the ten persons with what is suitable to pray in, whether the poor person was male or female.
Allah knows best.
Al-`Awfi said that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah means a robe or garment for each poor person ( of the ten ).
Mujahid also said that the least of clothing, referred to in the Ayah, is a garment, and the most is whatever you wish.
Al-Hasan, Abu Ja`far Al-Baqir, `Ata', Tawus, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Hammad bin Abi Sulayman and Abu Malik said that it means ( giving each of the ten poor persons ) a garment each.
Allah's statement, أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ ( or free a slave ) refers to freeing a believing slave.
In the Muwatta' of Malik, the Musnad of Ash-Shafi`i and the Sahih of Muslim, a lengthy Hadith was recorded that `Umar bin Al-Hakam As-Sulami said that he once had to free a slave ( as atonement ) and he brought a black slave girl before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ , who asked her; «أَيْنَ اللهُ؟» ( Where is Allah ) She said, "Above the heavens." He said, «مَنْ أَنَا؟» ( Who am I ) She said, "The Messenger of Allah." He said, «أَعْتِقْهَا فَإِنَّهَا مُؤْمِنَة» ( Free her, for she is a believer. ) There are three types of expiation for breaking deliberate oaths, and whichever one chooses, it will suffice, according to the consensus ( of the scholars ).
Allah mentioned the easiest, then the more difficult options, since feeding is easier than giving away clothes, and giving away clothes is easier than freeing a slave.
If one is unable to fulfill any of these options, then he fasts for three days for expiation, just as Allah said, فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَـثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ( But whosoever cannot afford (that ), then he should fast for three days.) Ubayy bin Ka`b and Ibn Mas`ud and his students read this Ayah as follows, "Then he should fast three consecutive days." Even if this statement was not narrated to us as a part of the Qur'an through Mutawatir narration, it would still be an explanation of the Qur'an by the Companions that has the ruling of being related from the Prophet .
Allah's statement, ذلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَـنِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ( That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. )5:89 means, this is the legal way to atone for deliberate oaths, وَاحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَـنَكُمْ ( And protect your oaths. ) Do not leave your broken oaths without paying the expiation for them, according to the meaning given by Ibn Jarir. كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَـتِهِ ( Thus Allah makes clear to you His Ayat ) and explains them to you, لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ( that you may be grateful. )

( Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths ) Allah does not take you to task for the expiation of unintentional oaths, ( but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest ) He takes you to task for the intention of your hearts when you make oaths. ( The expiation thereof ) the expiation of the oath which is not unintentional ( is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk ) of bread and seasoning which you feed to them at lunch and dinner, ( or the clothing of them ) or the clothing of ten needy people whereby their nudity is covered: a shawl, a gown or a loin cloth, ( or the liberation of a slave ) whichever it is of these three options, ( and for him who finds not (the wherewithal to do so )) any one of these three options ( then a three day fast ) consecutively. ( This ) which I have mentioned ( is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn ) and do not honour your oath; ( and keep your oaths ) the uttering of your oaths as well as the expiation of your oaths. ( Thus Allah expoundeth unto you His revelations ) His commands and prohibitions, as He expounds the expiation of oaths ( in order that ye may give thanks ) in order that you may show gratitude for expositing His commands and prohibitions.

Allah will not punish you for what is uninentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation (a deliberate oath) feed ten Masakin (poor persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families; or clothe them; or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much). Thus Allah make clear to you His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) that you may be grateful.

Page 122 English transliteration