The Ruling on Swearing by the Prophet ﷺ
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- Apr 24
- 2 min read
Question to Shaykh Ibn Baaz:
Some people are accustomed to swearing by the Prophet ﷺ, and this has become a common practice among them. However, they do not believe in it as a matter of creed. What is the ruling on this?
Shaykh Ibn Baaz Answer:
Swearing by the Prophet ﷺ or by any other created being is a grave evil and is from the prohibited acts of shirk (polytheism). It is not permissible for anyone to swear except by Allah alone. Imām Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr (رحمه الله) reported consensus (ijmāʿ) that swearing by other than Allah is impermissible.
Authentic aḥādīth from the Prophet ﷺ clearly forbid this practice and clarify that it is from shirk. In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Indeed, Allah forbids you from swearing by your forefathers. Whoever must swear, let him swear by Allah or remain silent.”(Agreed upon)
And in another narration:
*“Whoever must swear, then let him not swear except by Allah, or else remain silent.”
Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī also reported with a sound chain that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever swears by other than Allah has committed kufr (disbelief) or shirk (polytheism).”
And it is authentically reported from him ﷺ that he said:
“Whoever swears by al-Amānah (trust) is not one of us.”
There are many well-known ḥadīths in this regard. Therefore, it is obligatory upon all Muslims that they swear only by Allah alone. It is not permissible to swear by anyone other than Allah, no matter who they are, due to the aforementioned aḥādīth and others like them.
Anyone who has become accustomed to this practice must stop it, and must forbid his family, companions, and others from it, based on the statement of the Prophet ﷺ:
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able, then with his tongue; and if he is not able, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.”(Reported by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ)
Swearing by other than Allah is minor shirk (shirk aṣghar), as indicated by the previous ḥadīths. However, it can reach the level of major shirk (shirk akbar) if the one swearing believes in his heart that the one he swore by deserves the same glorification as Allah, or believes that it is permissible to worship them alongside Allah, or holds other such kufr-based beliefs.
We ask Allah to grant all Muslims safety from this practice, and to grant them understanding of His religion, and protection from all causes of His anger. Indeed, He is All-Hearing and Near.
📚 Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa-Maqālāt ash-Shaykh Ibn Bāz, 3/144.
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