Once we were in the house of Abu Musa who presented a meal containing cooked chicken. A man from the tribe of Bani Taim Allah with red complexion as if he were from the Byzantine war prisoners, was present. Abu Musa invited him to share the meal but he (apologised) saying. "I saw chickens eating dirty things and so I have had a strong aversion to eating them, and have taken an oath that I will not eat chickens." Abu Musa said, "Come along, I will tell you about this matter (i.e. how to cancel one's oath). I went to the Prophet ﷺ in the company of a group of Al-Ashariyin, asked him to provide us with means of conveyance. He said, 'By Allah, I will not provide you with any means of conveyance and I have nothing to make you ride on.' Then some camels as booty were brought to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he asked for us saying. 'Where are the group of Al-Ashʿariyun?' Then he ordered that we should be given five camels with white humps. When we set out we said, 'What have we done? We will never be blessed (with what we have been given).' So, we returned to the Prophet ﷺ and said, 'We asked you to provide us with means of conveyance, but you took an oath that you would not provide us with any means of conveyance. Did you forget (your oath when you gave us the camels)? He replied. 'I have not provided you with means of conveyance, but Allah has provided you with it, and by Allah, Allah willing, if ever I take an oath to do something, and later on I find that it is more beneficial to do something different, I will do the thing which is better, and give expiation for my oath."  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَأُتِيَ ذَكَرَ دَجَاجَةً وَعِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّهِ أَحْمَرُ كَأَنَّهُ مِنَ الْمَوَالِي فَدَعَاهُ لِلطَّعَامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ لاَ آكُلُ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ فَلأُحَدِّثْكُمْ عَنْ ذَاكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَأُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَسَأَلَ عَنَّا فَقَالَ أَيْنَ النَّفَرُ الأَشْعَرِيُّونَ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا مَا صَنَعْنَا لاَ يُبَارَكُ لَنَا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا إِنَّا سَأَلْنَاكَ أَنْ تَحْمِلَنَا فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا أَفَنَسِيتَ قَالَ لَسْتُ أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا  

I went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ along with a group of people from (the tribe of) Al-Ashʿari, asking for mounts. The Prophet ﷺ said, "By Allah, I will not give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to mount you on." We stayed there as long as Allah wished, and after that, some camels were brought to the Prophet and he ordered that we be given three camels. When we set out, some of us said to others, "Allah will not bless us, as we all went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him for mounts, and although he had sworn that he would not give us mounts, he did give us." So we returned to the Prophet; and mentioned that to him. He said, "I have not provided you with mounts, but Allah has. By Allah, Allah willing, if I ever take an oath, and then see that another is better than the first, I make expiration for my (dissolved) oath, and do what is better and make expiration."  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ أَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ مَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ ثُمَّ لَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثَةِ ذَوْدٍ فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لاَ يُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا فَحَمَلَنَا فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ  

I went to the Prophet ﷺ along with a group of Al-Ashʿariyin in order to request him to provide us with mounts. He said, "By Allah, I will not provide you with mounts and I haven't got anything to mount you on." Then we stayed there as long as Allah wished us to stay, and then three very nice looking she-camels were brought to him and he made us ride them. When we left, we, or some of us, said, "By Allah, we will not be blessed, as we came to the Prophet ﷺ asking him for mounts, and he swore that he would not give us any mounts but then he did give us. So let us go back to the Prophet ﷺ and remind him (of his oath)." When we returned to him (and reminded him of the fact), he said, "I did not give you mounts, but it is Allah Who gave you. By Allah, Allah willing, if I ever take an oath to do something and then I find something else than the first, I will make expiation for my oath and do the thing which is better (or do something which is better and give the expiation for my oath).  

أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ أَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ ثُمَّ لَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ نَلْبَثَ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِثَلاَثِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَحَمَلَنَا عَلَيْهَا فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا أَوْ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا وَاللَّهِ لاَ يُبَارَكُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا فَارْجِعُوا بِنَا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَنُذَكِّرُهُ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ أَوْ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي  

There was a relation of love and brotherhood between this tribe of Jarm and Al-Ashʿariyin. Once we were with Abu Musa Al-Ashʿari, and then a meal containing chicken was brought to Abu Musa, and there was present, a man from the tribe of Taimillah who was of red complexion as if he were from non-Arab freed slaves. Abu Musa invited him to the meal. He said, "I have seen chickens eating dirty things, so I deemed it filthy and took an oath that I would never eat chicken." On that, Abu Musa said, "Get up, I will narrate to you about that. Once a group of the Ashʿariyin and I went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and asked him to provide us with mounts; he said, 'By Allah, I will never give you any mounts nor do I have anything to mount you on.' Then a few camels of war booty were brought to Messenger of Allah ﷺ , and he asked about us, saying, 'Where are the Ash-'ariyin?' He then ordered five nice camels to be given to us, and when we had departed, we said, 'What have we done? Messenger of Allah ﷺ had taken the oath not to give us any mounts, and that he had nothing to mount us on, and later he gave us that we might ride? Did we take advantage of the fact that Messenger of Allah ﷺ had forgotten his oath? By Allah, we will never succeed.' So we went back to him and said to him, 'We came to you to give us mounts, and you took an oath that you would not give us any mounts and that you had nothing to mount us on.' On that he said, 'I did not provide you with mounts, but Allah did. By Allah, if I take an oath to do something, and then find something else better than it, I do that which is better and make expiation for the dissolution of the oath.' "  

كَانَ بَيْنَ هَذَا الْحَىِّ مِنْ جَرْمٍ وَبَيْنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ وُدٌّ وَإِخَاءٌ فَكُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ فَقُرِّبَ إِلَيْهِ طَعَامٌ فِيهِ لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ وَعِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّهِ أَحْمَرُ كَأَنَّهُ مِنَ الْمَوَالِي فَدَعَاهُ إِلَى الطَّعَامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لاَ آكُلَهُ فَقَالَ قُمْ فَلأُحَدِّثَنَّكَ عَنْ ذَاكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ فَأُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَسَأَلَ عَنَّا فَقَالَ أَيْنَ النَّفَرُ الأَشْعَرِيُّونَ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا مَا صَنَعْنَا حَلَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَحْمِلُنَا وَمَا عِنْدَهُ مَا يَحْمِلُنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا تَغَفَّلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ نُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَاكَ لِتَحْمِلَنَا فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا وَمَا عِنْدَكَ مَا تَحْمِلُنَا فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَسْتُ أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا  

There were good relations and brotherhood between this tribe of Jurm and the Ashʿariyyin. Once, while we were sitting with Abu Musa Al-Ashʿari, there was brought to him a meal which contained chicken meat, and there was sitting beside him, a man from the tribe of Bani Taimul-lah who looked like one of the Mawali. Abu Musa invited the man to eat but the man said, "I have seen chicken eating some dirty things, and I have taken an oath not to eat chicken." Abu Musa said to him, "Come along, let me tell you something in this regard. Once I went to the Prophet ﷺ with a few men from Ashʿariyyin and we asked him for mounts. The Prophet ﷺ said, By Allah, I will not mount you on anything; besides I do not have anything to mount you on.' Then a few camels from the war booty were brought to the Prophet, and he asked about us, saying, 'Where are the group of Ashʿariyyin?' So he ordered for five fat camels to be given to us and then we set out. We said, 'What have we done? Messenger of Allah ﷺ took an oath that he would not give us anything to ride and that he had nothing for us to ride, yet he provided us with mounts. We made Messenger of Allah ﷺ forget his oath! By Allah, we will never be successful.' So we returned to him and reminded him of his oath. He said, 'I have not provided you with the mount, but Allah has done so. By Allah, I may take an oath to do something, but on finding something else which is better, I do that which is better and make the expiation for my oath.' "  

كَانَ بَيْنَ هَذَا الْحَىِّ مِنْ جُرْمٍ وَبَيْنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ وُدٌّ وَإِخَاءٌ فَكُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ فَقُرِّبَ إِلَيْهِ الطَّعَامُ فِيهِ لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ وَعِنْدَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّهِ كَأَنَّهُ مِنَ الْمَوَالِي فَدَعَاهُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ لاَ آكُلُهُ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ فَلأُحَدِّثْكَ عَنْ ذَاكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ فَأُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَسَأَلَ عَنَّا فَقَالَ أَيْنَ النَّفَرُ الأَشْعَرِيُّونَ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى ثُمَّ انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا مَا صَنَعْنَا حَلَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَحْمِلُنَا وَمَا عِنْدَهُ مَا يَحْمِلُنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا تَغَفَّلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ نُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُ فَقَالَ لَسْتُ أَنَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهُ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا  

I came to Allah's Apostle ﷺ along with a group of Ash'arites requesting to give us a mount. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with a mount, and there is nothing with me which I should give you as a ride. He (the narrator) said: We stayed there as long as Allah willed. Then there were brought to him (to the Holy Prophet) camels. He (the Holy Prophet) then ordered to give us three white humped camels, We started and said (or some of us said to the others): Allah will not bless us. We came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ begging him to provide us with riding camels. He swore that he could not provide us with a mount, but later on he provided us with that. They (some of the Prophet's Companions) came and informed him about this (rankling of theirs), whereupon he said: It was not I who provided you with a mount, but Allah has provided you with that. So far as I am concerned, by Allah, if He so wills, I would not swear, but if, later on, I would see better than it, I (would break the vow) and expiate it and do that which is better.  

أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا أَوْ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لاَ يُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا فَأَتَوْهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَإِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ثُمَّ أَرَى خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

We were sitting in the company of Abu Musa that he called for food and it consisted of flesh of fowl. It was then that a person from Banu Tamim visited him. His complexion was red having the resemblance of a slave. He said to him: Come and (join me in food). He showed reluctance. He (Abu Masa) said: Come on, for I saw Messenger of Allah ﷺ eating it (fowl's meat), whereupon that person said: I saw it eating something (of filth and rubbish) and I found it repugnant and took an oath that I would never eat that. He (Abu Muds) said: Come, so that I would narrate to you about that (the incident pertaining to vow). (And he narrated thus): I came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ along with a group of people belonging to the tribe of Ash'ari, asking him to provide us with riding camels. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with riding animals. And there is nothing with me with which I can provide you a mount. We stayed (for some time) there as Allah willed, and there was brought to Messenger of Allah ﷺ booty of camels. He called us and commanded that we should be given five white humped camels. As we were about to go back, some of us said to the other: As we made Messenger of Allah ﷺ forget oath, there would be no blessing for us (in his gift). We went back to him and said: Messenger of Allah, we came to you to provide us with riding animals and you took an oath that you would never equip us with mounts and then you have provided us with the riding beasts Messenger of Allah, have you forgotten? Thereupon he said: I swear by Allah that if Allah so wills, I shall not swear an oath, and then consider something else to be better than it without making atonement for my oath and doing the thing that is better. So you go; Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, has given you riding animals.  

أَيُّوبُ وَأَنَا لِحَدِيثِ الْقَاسِمِ أَحْفَظُ مِنِّي لِحَدِيثِ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ قَالَ كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَدَعَا بِمَائِدَتِهِ وَعَلَيْهَا لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّهِ أَحْمَرُ شَبِيهٌ بِالْمَوَالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلُمَّ فَتَلَكَّأَ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لاَ أَطْعَمَهُ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ أُحَدِّثْكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَدَعَا بِنَا فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى قَالَ فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ أَغْفَلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ لاَ يُبَارَكُ لَنَا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ وَإِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا أَفَنَسِيتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا فَانْطَلِقُوا فَإِنَّمَا حَمَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ ﷻ  

"I came to the Messenger of Allah with a group of the Ash'ari people and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: 'By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride and I have nothing to give you to ride.' We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be given three fine-looking camels. When we left, we said to one another: 'We came to the Messenger of Allah to ask him for animals to ride, and he swore by Allah that he would not give us anything to ride, then he gave us something.'" Abu Musa said: "We came to the Prophet and told him about that. He said: 'I did not give you animals to ride, rather Allah gave you them to ride. By Allah, I do not swear an oath and then see something better than it, but I offer expiation for my oath and do that which is better.'"  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ ثُمَّ لَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ فَأُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثِ ذَوْدٍ فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لاَ يُبَارِكُ اللَّهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللَّهُ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

"I came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a group of Asharites and asked him to give us animals to ride. He said: 'By Allah, I cannot give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to give you to ride.' We stayed as long as Allah willed, then some camels were brought to him. He ordered that we be given three she-camels with fine humps. When we left, we said to one another: 'We came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to ask him for animals to ride, and he swore by Allah that he would not give us anything to ride, then he gave us something. Let us go back.' So we went to him and we said: 'O Messenger of Allah! We came to you seeking mounts, and you took an oath that you would not give us mounts, then you gave us some mounts.' He said: 'By Allah, I did not give you animals to ride, rather Allah gave you them to ride. I, by Allah, if Allah wills, do not swear and then see something better than it, but I offer expiation for what I swore about, and do that which is better.' Or he said: 'I do that which is better and offer expiation for what I swore about.'" (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 2107)   

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ لَا وَاللهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلَاثِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لَا يَحْمِلَنَا ارْجِعُوا بِنَا أَيْ حَتَّى نُذَكِّرَهُ قَالَ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا ‍ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللهُ ﷻ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ تَعَالَى لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ عَنْيَمِينِي أَوْ قَالَ إِلَّا كَفَّرْتُ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ  

We were sitting with Abu Musa Al-Ash'sari, and as there were ties of friendship and mutual favors between us and his tribe. His meal was presented before him and there was chicken meat in it. Among those who were present there was a man from Bani Taimillah having a red complexion as a non-Arab freed slave, and that man did not approach the meal. Abu Musa said to him, "Come along! I have seen Messenger of Allah ﷺ eating of that (i.e., chicken)." The man said, "I have seen it (chickens) eating something I regarded as dirty, and so I have taken an oath that I shall not eat (its meat) chicken." Abu Musa said, "Come along! I will inform you about it (i.e., your oath). Once we went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ in company with a group of Ash'airiyin, asking him for mounts while he was distributing some camels from the camels of Zakat. (Aiyub said, "I think he said that the Prophet was in an angry mood at the time.") The Prophet ﷺ said, 'By Allah! I will not give you mounts, and I have nothing to mount you on.' After we had left, some camels of booty were brought to Allah's Apostle and he said, "Where are those Ashʿariyin? Where are those Ashʿariyin?" So we went (to him) and he gave us five very fat good-looking camels. We mounted them and went away, and then I said to my companions, 'We went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ to give us mounts, but he took an oath that he would not give us mounts, and then later on he sent for us and gave us mounts, perhaps Messenger of Allah ﷺ forgot his oath. By Allah, we will never be successful, for we have taken advantage of the fact that Messenger of Allah ﷺ forgot to fulfill his oath. So let us return to Messenger of Allah ﷺ to remind him of his oath.' We returned and said, 'O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We came to you and asked you for mounts, but you took an oath that you would not give us mounts) but later on you gave us mounts, and we thought or considered that you have forgotten your oath.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Depart, for Allah has given you Mounts. By Allah, Allah willing, if I take an oath and then later find another thing better than that, I do what is better, and make expiation for the oath.' " (two other narrations through Zahdam as above) (Using translation from Bukhārī 6721)  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَقَدَّمَ فِي طَعَامِهِ لَحْمَ دَجَاجٍ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللهِ أَحْمَرُ كَأَنَّهُ مَوْلًى فَلَمْ يَدْنُ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو مُوسَى ادْنُ؛ فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ قَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لَا أَطْعَمَهُ أَبَدًا فَقَالَ ادْنُ أُخْبِرْكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ وَهُوَ يَقْسِمُ نَعَمًا مِنْ نَعَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ قَالَ أَيُّوبُ أَحْسِبُهُ وَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ فَقَالَ لَا وَاللهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَأُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ هَؤُلَاءِ الْأَشْعَرِيُّونَ؟ فَأَتَيْنَا فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَانْدَفَعْنَا فَقُلْتُ لِأَصْحَابِي أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لَا يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْنَا فَحَمَلَنَا فَقُلْتُ نَسِيَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ وَاللهِ لَئِنْ تَغَفَّلْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ لَا نُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا ارْجِعُوا بِنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ فَلْنُذَكِّرْهُ يَمِينَهُ فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا فَعَرَفْنَا أَوْ ظَنَنَّا أَنَّكَ نَسِيتَ يَمِينَكَ فَقَالَ ﷺ انْطَلِقُوا فَإِنَّمَا حَمَلَكُمُ اللهُ ﷻ إِنِّي وَاللهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ لَاأَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا  

[Machine] We came to the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , to carry him. He said, "No, by Allah, I will not carry you." So when we returned, the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , sent three measures of barley to us. He said, "So I said, the Messenger of Allah, ﷺ , swore that he would not carry us, but then he carried us. So we came to him and said, 'O Messenger of Allah, indeed you swore not to carry us, but you carried us.' He said, 'I did not carry you, but Allah carried you. And by Allah, I do not swear an oath on my right hand, but if I see any other oath better than it, I fulfill it.'" Abu 'Abdur-Rahman said, "My father said, 'Abu As-Saleel Dhirayb ibn Nuqayr said...'"  

أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ لَا وَاللهِ لَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ بِثَلَاثِ ذَوْدٍ بُقْعِ الذُّرَى قَالَ فَقُلْتُ حَلَفَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ لَايَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ إِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَحْمِلَنَا فَحَمَلْتَنَا فَقَالَ لَمْ أَحْمِلْكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَاللهِ لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَتَيْتُهُ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ أَبِي أَبُو السَّلِيلِ ضُرَيْبُ بْنُ نُقَيْرٍ  

[Machine] "We were on foot, and we went to the Prophet of Allah ﷺ to carry him. He said, 'By Allah, I will not let you carry me today,' or he said, 'By Allah, I will not let you carry me.' When we returned to the residence or when we returned to the residence, a herd of camels came to him. He sent us three pieces of barley, some of us said to each other, 'Should we ride while the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has already ridden?' So we went to him and said, 'O Prophet of Allah, you have already ridden.' He said, 'By Allah, I do not let you carry me, Allah is the one who carries you, and whatever is on the earth from the right side, I take an oath on it, and then I see something better than it, I will go to it or I will go to it.'"  

كُنَّا مُشَاةً فَأَتَيْنَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ «وَاللَّهِ لَا أَحْمِلُكُمُ الْيَوْمَ» أَوْ قَالَ «وَاللَّهِ لَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ» قَالَ فَلَمَّا رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ أَوْ قَالَ حِينَ رَجَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ أَتَاهُ قَطِيعٌ مِنْ إِبِلٍ فَإِذَا قَدْ بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا بِثَلَاثٍ بُقْعِ الذُّرَى قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ أَنَرْكَبُ وَقَدْ حَلَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ قَدْ حَلَفْتَ قَالَ «إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ إِنَّمَا حَمَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ وَمَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنْ يَمِينٍ أَحْلِفُ عَلَيْهَا ثُمَّ أَرَى خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَتَيْتُهَا أَوْ أَتَيْتُهُ»  

[Machine] I went to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ seeking his help to carry something for a group of my people. He said, "By Allah, I cannot carry anything for you, and by Allah, I do not have anything to carry you with." This happened twice. Then the Prophet ﷺ came with three loads of foodstuff (dates) tied and sent to us. We carried them and when he left, I said to my companions, "I think that the Prophet ﷺ blessed us in this task and made it easier for us, for he had taken an oath not to do so." Then we went to him and informed him about it. He said, "I did not remember my oath, but when I saw you carrying the loads, I remembered it as I disliked to unload the burden from you while you were already on it, and I prefer to fulfil my oath as best as I can."  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنْ قَوْمِي فَقَالَ «وَاللهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَاللهِ مَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ» مَرَّتَيْنِ فَأَتَى النَّبِيَّ ﷺ ثَلَاثَةُ أَحْمَالٍ مِنْ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْنَا فَحَمَلَنَا فَلَمَّا مَضَيْنَا بِهِ قُلْتُ لِأَصْحَابِي مَا أُرَاهُ يُبَارَكُ لَنَا فِيهَا وَقَدْ حَلَفَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ لَا يَحْمِلَنَا فَحَمَلَنَا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَيْهِ فَأَخْبَرْنَاهُ بِيَمِينِهِ فَقَالَ «لَمْ أَنْسَ يَمِينِي وَلَكِنْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَرَأَيْتُ غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا فَعَلْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي»  

I went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ along with a group of people from (the tribe of) Al-Ashʿari, asking for mounts. The Prophet ﷺ said, "By Allah, I will not give you anything to ride, and I have nothing to mount you on." We stayed there as long as Allah wished, and after that, some camels were brought to the Prophet and he ordered that we be given three camels. When we set out, some of us said to others, "Allah will not bless us, as we all went to Messenger of Allah ﷺ asking him for mounts, and although he had sworn that he would not give us mounts, he did give us." So we returned to the Prophet; and mentioned that to him. He said, "I have not provided you with mounts, but Allah has. By Allah, Allah willing, if I ever take an oath, and then see that another is better than the first, I make expiration for my (dissolved) oath, and do what is better and make expiration." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6718)  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي يَعْنِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ «وَاللهِ لَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ» ثُمَّ لَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ فَأُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلَاثَةِ ذَوْدٍ فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لَا يُبَارِكُ اللهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ لَا يَحْمِلُنَا فَحَمَلْنَا قَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى فَأَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَذَكَرْنَا ذَلِكَ لَهُ فَقَالَ «مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ بَلِ اللهُ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ»  

I came to Allah's Apostle ﷺ along with a group of Ash'arites requesting to give us a mount. He (the Holy Prophet) said: By Allah, I cannot provide you with a mount, and there is nothing with me which I should give you as a ride. He (the narrator) said: We stayed there as long as Allah willed. Then there were brought to him (to the Holy Prophet) camels. He (the Holy Prophet) then ordered to give us three white humped camels, We started and said (or some of us said to the others): Allah will not bless us. We came to Messenger of Allah ﷺ begging him to provide us with riding camels. He swore that he could not provide us with a mount, but later on he provided us with that. They (some of the Prophet's Companions) came and informed him about this (rankling of theirs), whereupon he said: It was not I who provided you with a mount, but Allah has provided you with that. So far as I am concerned, by Allah, if He so wills, I would not swear, but if, later on, I would see better than it, I (would break the vow) and expiate it and do that which is better. (Using translation from Muslim 1649a)   

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ قَالَ وَاللهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللهُ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلَاثِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قُلْنَا أَوْ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ لَا يُبَارَكُ اللهُ لَنَا أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لَا يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا فَأَتَوْهُ فَأَخْبَرُوهُ فَقَالَ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللهُ لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ ثُمَّ أَرَى خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرْتُ يَمِينِي وَأَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ خَلَفِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ وَحَدِيثُ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ بِمَعْنَاهُ  

"عن زهدم الجرس قال: كنت عند أبى موسى الأشعرى فقرب إليه طعام فيه دجاج فقام رجل من بنى تيم الله، فاعتزل، فقال له أبو موسى: ادن فقد رأيت

رسول الله ﷺ يأكلها، فقال لى: إنى رأيتها تأكل شيئًا قَذَّرتُهُ، فحلفتُ أن لا آكلَهَا، قال: فادْنُ حَتَى أخبرك عن يمينك أيضا، إنى أتيتُ النبى ﷺ في نفر من قومى، فقلنا: يا رسول الله احملنا، فحلف أن لا يَحْمِلَنَا، ثمَّ أتاهُ نَهْبٌ (*) من إِبِلٍ، فأَمَرَ لنا بخمْسِ زودٍ فَقُلنَا: تَغَفَّلْنَا (* *) يَمِين رسول الله ﷺ والله لئن ذهبنا بِهَا على هذا لا نُفْلِح فرجعنا إليه، فقلنا: يا نبى الله إنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ أن لا تحملنا ثم حملتنَا، فقال: إن الله تبارك وتعالى هو الذى حملكم، وإنى لَنْ أحلف على أمر فأرى الذى هو خير منه إلَّا أتيتُ الذى هو خيرٌ وتحللت".