Surah Al-Ma’idah >> Currently viewing Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayat 89 (5:89)

Surah Al-Ma’idah Ayat 89 in Arabic Text

لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِٱللَّغۡوِ فِيٓ أَيۡمَٰنِكُمۡ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ ٱلۡأَيۡمَٰنَۖ فَكَفَّـٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطۡعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَٰكِينَ مِنۡ أَوۡسَطِ مَا تُطۡعِمُونَ أَهۡلِيكُمۡ أَوۡ كِسۡوَتُهُمۡ أَوۡ تَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٖۖ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَٰثَةِ أَيَّامٖۚ ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّـٰرَةُ أَيۡمَٰنِكُمۡ إِذَا حَلَفۡتُمۡۚ وَٱحۡفَظُوٓاْ أَيۡمَٰنَكُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ
Laa yu’aakhizukumul laahu billaghwi feee aimaanikum wa laakiny ya’aakhizukum bimaa ‘aqqattumul aimaana fakaf faaratuhooo it’aamu ‘asharati masaakeena min awsati maa tut’imoona ahleekum aw kiswatuhum aw tahreeru raqabatin famallam yajid fa Siyaamu salaasati aiyaam; zaalika kaffaaratu aimaanikum izaa halaftum; wahfazooo aimaanakum; kazaalika yubaiyinul laahu lakum Aayaatihee la’allakum tashkuroon

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 89

Sahih International
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.

Yusuf Ali
Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful.

Abul Ala Maududi
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.) But do keep your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His commandments; maybe you will be grateful.

Muhsin Khan
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.

Pickthall
Allah will not take you to task for that which is unintentional in your oaths, but He will take you to task for the oaths which ye swear in earnest. The expiation thereof is the feeding of ten of the needy with the average of that wherewith ye feed your own folk, or the clothing of them, or the liberation of a slave, and for him who findeth not (the wherewithal to do so) then a three days’ fast. This is the expiation of your oaths when ye have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah expoundeth unto you His revelations in order that ye may give thanks.

Dr. Ghali
Allah does not take you to task for an idleness in your oaths, but He takes you to task for whatevercontracts you have made by oaths. So the expiation thereof is the feeding of ten indigent persons with the average of that wherewith you feed your own families; or their raiment; or the freeing of a neck. (i.e., a slave) Yet, for him who does not find the (means), then (the expiation is) the fasting for three days. That is the expiation of your oaths when you have sworn; and keep your oaths. Thus Allah makes evident to you His signs, that possibly you would thank (Him).

Abdel Haleem
God does not take you [to task] for what is thoughtless in your oaths, only for your binding oaths: the atonement for breaking an oath is to feed ten poor people with food equivalent to what you would normally give your own families, or to clothe them, or to set free a slave- if a person cannot find the means, he should fast for three days. This is the atonement for breaking your oaths- keep your oaths. In this way God makes clear His revelations to you, so that you may be thankful.

Muhammad Junagarhi
اللہ تعالیٰ تمہاری قسموں میں لغو قسم پر تم سے مؤاخذہ نہیں فرماتا لیکن مؤاخذہ اس پر فرماتا ہے کہ تم جن قسموں کو مضبوط کردو۔ اس کا کفاره دس محتاجوں کو کھانا دینا ہے اوسط درجے کا جو اپنے گھر والوں کو کھلاتے ہو یا ان کو کپڑا دینا یا ایک غلام یا لونڈی آزاد کرنا ہے اور جس کو مقدور نہ ہو تو تین دن کے روزے ہیں یہ تمہاری قسموں کا کفاره ہے جب کہ تم قسم کھا لو اور اپنی قسموں کا خیال رکھو! اسی طرح اللہ تعالیٰ تمہارے واسطے اپنے احکام بیان فرماتا ہے تاکہ تم شکر کرو

Quran 5 Verse 89 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Al-Ma’idah ayat 89, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(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.


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 (Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 224-225) note 243-444; for expiation see (Surah An-Nisa, ayat 92) note 125.

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.

Ibn-Kathir

89. Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten poor, on a scale of the Awsat of that with which you feed your own families; or clothe them; or free a slave. But whosoever cannot afford, then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn. And protect your oaths. Thus Allah makes clear to you His Ayat that you may be grateful.


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 , 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.)

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