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  

When Abu Musa arrived (at Kufa as a governor) he honored this family of Jarm (by paying them a visit). I was sitting near to him, and he was eating chicken as his lunch, and there was a man sitting amongst the people. Abu Musa invited the man to the lunch, but the latter said, "I saw chickens (eating something (dirty) so I consider them unclean." Abu Musa said, "Come on! I saw the Prophet ﷺ eating it (i.e. chicken)." The man said "I have taken an oath that I will not ea (chicken)" Abu Musa said." Come on! I will tell you about your oath. We, a group of Al-Ashʿariyin people went to the Prophet and asked him to give us something to ride, but the Prophet ﷺ refused. Then we asked him for the second time to give us something to ride, but the Prophet ﷺ took an oath that he would not give us anything to ride. After a while, some camels of booty were brought to the Prophet ﷺ and he ordered that five camels be given to us. When we took those camels we said, "We have made the Prophet ﷺ forget his oath, and we will not be successful after that." So I went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Allah' Apostle ! You took an oath that you would not give us anything to ride, but you have given us." He said, "Yes, for if I take an oath and later I see a better solution than that, I act on the later (and gave the expiation of that oaths"  

لَمَّا قَدِمَ أَبُو مُوسَى أَكْرَمَ هَذَا الْحَىَّ مِنْ جَرْمٍ وَإِنَّا لَجُلُوسٌ عِنْدَهُ وَهْوَ يَتَغَدَّى دَجَاجًا وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ جَالِسٌ فَدَعَاهُ إِلَى الْغَدَاءِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَأْكُلُهُ فَقَالَ إِنِّي حَلَفْتُ لاَ آكُلُهُ فَقَالَ هَلُمَّ أُخْبِرْكَ عَنْ يَمِينِكَ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ فَاسْتَحْمَلْنَاهُ فَأَبَى أَنْ يَحْمِلَنَا فَاسْتَحْمَلْنَاهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ لَمْ يَلْبَثِ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَنْ أُتِيَ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ فَلَمَّا قَبَضْنَاهَا قُلْنَا تَغَفَّلْنَا النَّبِيَّ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ لاَ نُفْلِحُ بَعْدَهَا أَبَدًا فَأَتَيْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ حَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا وَقَدْ حَمَلْتَنَا قَالَ أَجَلْ وَلَكِنْ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا  

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)  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى وَكَانَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ هَذَا الْحَىِّ مِنْ جَرْمٍ إِخَاءٌ وَمَعْرُوفٌ قَالَ فَقُدِّمَ طَعَامٌ قَالَ وَقُدِّمَ فِي طَعَامِهِ لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ قَالَ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللَّهِ أَحْمَرُ كَأَنَّهُ مَوْلًى قَالَ فَلَمْ يَدْنُ فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو مُوسَى ادْنُ فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ قَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا قَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لاَ أَطْعَمَهُ أَبَدًا فَقَالَ ادْنُ أُخْبِرْكَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ أَسْتَحْمِلُهُ وَهْوَ يُقْسِمُ نَعَمًا مِنْ نَعَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ قَالَ أَيُّوبُ أَحْسِبُهُ قَالَ وَهْوَ غَضْبَانُ قَالَ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ قَالَ فَانْطَلَقْنَا فَأُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِنَهْبِ إِبِلٍ فَقِيلَ أَيْنَ هَؤُلاَءِ الأَشْعَرِيُّونَ فَأَتَيْنَا فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِخَمْسِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى قَالَ فَانْدَفَعْنَا فَقُلْتُ لأَصْحَابِي أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيْنَا فَحَمَلَنَا نَسِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ تَغَفَّلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ لاَ نُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا ارْجِعُوا بِنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَلْنُذَكِّرْهُ يَمِينَهُ فَرَجَعْنَا فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا فَظَنَنَّا أَوْ فَعَرَفْنَا أَنَّكَ نَسِيتَ يَمِينَكَ قَالَ انْطَلِقُوا فَإِنَّمَا حَمَلَكُمُ اللَّهُ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لاَ أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلاَّ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا  

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  

We were in the company of Abu Musa Al-Ashʿari and there were friendly relations between us and this tribe of Jarm. Abu Musa was presented with a dish containing chicken. Among the people there was sitting a red-faced man who did not come near the food. Abu Musa said (to him), "Come on (and eat), for I have seen Messenger of Allah ﷺ eating of it (i.e. chicken)." He said, "I have seen it eating something (dirty) and since then I have disliked it, and have taken an oath that I shall not eat it ' Abu Musa said, "Come on, I will tell you (or narrate to you). Once I went to Allah s Apostle with a group of Al-Ashʿariyin, and met him while he was angry, distributing some camels of rakʿat. We asked for mounts but he took an oath that he would not give us any mounts, and added, 'I have nothing to mount you on' In the meantime some camels of booty were brought to Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he asked twice, 'Where are Al-Ashʿariyin?" So he gave us five white camels with big humps. We stayed for a short while (after we had covered a little distance), and then I said to my companions, "Messenger of Allah ﷺ has forgotten his oath. By Allah, if we do not remind Messenger of Allah ﷺ of his oath, we will never be successful." So we returned to the Prophet ﷺ and said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! We asked you for mounts, but you took an oath that you would not give us any mounts; we think that you have forgotten your oath.' He said, 'It is Allah Who has given you mounts. By Allah, and Allah willing, if I take an oath and later find something else better than that. then I do what is better and expiate my oath.' "  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ وَكَانَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ هَذَا الْحَىِّ مِنْ جَرْمٍ إِخَاءٌ فَأُتِيَ بِطَعَامٍ فِيهِ لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ جَالِسٌ أَحْمَرُ فَلَمْ يَدْنُ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ قَالَ ادْنُ فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ قَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ أَكَلَ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لاَ آكُلَهُ فَقَالَ ادْنُ أُخْبِرْكَ أَوْ أُحَدِّثْكَ إِنِّي أَتَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ فَوَافَقْتُهُ وَهْوَ غَضْبَانُ وَهْوَ يَقْسِمُ نَعَمًا مِنْ نَعَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ فَاسْتَحْمَلْنَاهُ فَحَلَفَ أَنْ لاَ يَحْمِلَنَا قَالَ مَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ بِنَهْبٍ مِنْ إِبِلٍ فَقَالَ أَيْنَ الأَشْعَرِيُّونَ أَيْنَ الأَشْعَرِيُّونَ قَالَ فَأَعْطَانَا خَمْسَ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَبِثْنَا غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقُلْتُ لأَصْحَابِي نَسِيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ فَوَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ تَغَفَّلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَمِينَهُ لاَ نُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا فَرَجَعْنَا إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا اسْتَحْمَلْنَاكَ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا فَظَنَنَّا أَنَّكَ نَسِيتَ يَمِينَكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ حَمَلَكُمْ إِنِّي وَاللَّهِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ 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  

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 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.'"  

أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي رَهْطٍ مِنَ الأَشْعَرِيِّينَ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَمَا عِنْدِي مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ قَالَ فَلَبِثْنَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِإِبِلٍ فَأَمَرَ لَنَا بِثَلاَثَةِ إِبِلٍ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَلَمَّا انْطَلَقْنَا قَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ أَتَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَحَلَفَ أَلاَّ يَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلَنَا ارْجِعُوا بِنَا فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّا أَتَيْنَاكَ نَسْتَحْمِلُكَ فَحَلَفْتَ أَنْ لاَ تَحْمِلَنَا ثُمَّ حَمَلْتَنَا فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَاللَّهِ 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 أَوْ قَالَ أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَكَفَّرْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي  

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] So we were with Abu Musa when he brought us food that included chicken meat, and among the people there was a man with red complexion resembling the Mawali of Taym Allah. Abu Musa said, "Come and eat." I said, "I saw him eating raw meat, so I swore not to feed him ever." Then he said, "I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ eating from it." He then narrated that he came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with a group of Ash'ariyyin who were carrying him. He came to him while he was distributing a share of the Sadaqah camels. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, let us carry him." He was angry and said, "By Allah, I will not let you carry him, nor do I find anything to carry you on." Then he was brought spoils, a unique type of meat. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave us five portions of that unique meat. I said, "O Messenger of Allah, we used to doubt you, but now we will never be successful." So we went to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, you had sworn not to carry us." He said, "I did not carry you, but Allah carried you. By Allah, I do not swear an oath on a certain thing and then see something better than it except that I resort to what is better, and I have freed myself from my previous oath owing to the words of Wuhayb."  

فَكُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَقَرَّبَ إِلَيْنَا طَعَامًا فِيهِ لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ وَفِي الْقَوْمِ رَجُلٌ أَحْمَرُ شَبِيهٌ بِالْمَوَالِي مِنْ تَيْمِ اللهِ فَقَالَ أَبُو مُوسَى ادْنُ فَكُلْ يَعْنِي فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ نَتِنًا فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لَا أَطْعَمَهُ أَبَدًا فَقَالَ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ حَدَّثَ أَنَّهُ أَتَى رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْأَشْعَرِيِّينَ يَسْتَحْمِلُهُ فَأَتَاهُ وَهُوَ يَقْسِمُ ذَوْدًا مِنْ إِبِلِ الصَّدَقَةِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ احَمِلْنَا وَهُوَ غَضْبَانُ فَقَالَ وَاللهِ لَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ وَلَا أَجِدُ مَا أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِنَهْبِ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَأَعْطَانَا رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ خَمْسَ ذَوْدٍ غُرِّ الذُّرَى فَقُلْتُ تَغَفَّلْنَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ لَا نُفْلِحُ أَبَدًا فَأَتَيْنَاهُ فَقُلْنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ كُنْتَ حَلَفْتَ أَنْ لَا تَحْمِلَنَا فَقَالَ إِنِّي لَسْتُ أَنَا حَمَلْتُكُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ حَمَلَكُمْ وَاللهِ لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا أَتَيْتُ الَّذِي هُوَ خَيْرٌ وَتَحَلَّلْتُ عَنْ يَمِينِي لَفْظُ حَدِيثِ وُهَيْبٍ  

[Machine] We were at the house of Abu Musa when he called for a table with chicken meat on it. Then a man from the Taim Allah tribe, with red complexion resembling a slave, entered. Abu Musa said to him, "Come and join us." The man hesitated and said, "I have seen the Messenger of Allah ﷺ eating it or eating from it. I, by Allah, saw him eating something and I considered it filthy, so I swore not to eat from it." Abu Musa said, "Come here and I will inform you about it. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'I, by Allah, do not swear an oath on my right hand, if I see anything better than it (referring to the vow), I expiate my oath and release myself from it.' So go ahead, for it was only Allah who suggested you this."  

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي مُوسَى فَدَعَا بِمَائِدَةٍ وَعَلَيْهَا لَحْمُ دَجَاجٍ فَدَخَلَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَيْمِ اللهِ أَحْمَرُ شَبِيهٌ بِالْمَوَالِي فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُو مُوسَى ؓ هَلُمَّ فَتَلَكَّأَ قَالَ هَلُمَّ فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ يَأْكُلُهُ أَوْ قَالَ أَوْ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ قَالَ إِنِّي وَاللهِ رَأَيْتُهُ يَأْكُلُ شَيْئًا فَقَذِرْتُهُ فَحَلَفْتُ أَنْ لَا آكُلَ مِنْهُ قَالَ فَهَلُمَّ أُخْبِرْكَ عَنْ ذَاكَ إِنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِنِّي وَاللهِ لَا أَحْلِفُ عَلَى يَمِينٍ فَأَرَى غَيْرَهَا خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا كَفَّرْتُ يَمِينِي وَتَحَلَّلْتُهَا انْطَلِقُوا فَإِنَّمَا حَمَلَكُمُ اللهُ كَذَا