«By Allah, if Allah wills, I will not swear an oath and then find something better than it, except that I expiate my oath and do that which is better.»
Narrated by al-Bukhārī (no. 6718) and Muslim (no. 1649), the wording is his, from the narration of Abū Mūsā –may Allah be pleased with him–.
In another wording: al-Bukhārī (no. 5518) and Muslim (no. 1649): “except that I do what is better and expiate my oath.”
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
This ḥadīth occurred when a group from the Ash‘arī tribe came to the Prophet –may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him– during the expedition of Tabūk. They asked him to carry them, and he said: “By Allah, I will not carry you, nor do I have anything to carry you upon.” Later, some camels were brought, and he assigned three of them for them, and in another narration: five. When they departed, they disliked that the Messenger of Allah –may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him– had expiated his oath and feared that he might have broken it. They returned and informed him, and he told them that it was Allah who had carried them.
He then explained a profound principle: if a Muslim swears by something but later realizes that the opposite is better or more appropriate to prioritize, the Sunnah is to break the oath (expiate it) and do what is better. For example, if a person swears not to perform ʿUmrah in Ramadan, it is better for him to perform it, due to the special virtue of ʿUmrah in Ramadan, provided it does not conflict with a religious obligation; then he should expiate his oath. This is the meaning of the Prophet’s –may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him– statement: “I do not swear an oath and then find something better than it, except that I expiate my oath.”
And if he first breaks his oath—meaning he does what he swore to refrain from—and then expiates his oath, there is no harm in that, as mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥayn: “except that I do what is better and thereby expiate it.” The meaning of taḥallul (expiation) is the release from the obligation of the oath and the removal of its restriction, permitting him to do what is lawful.
This ruling applies when the oath is regarding something permissible, recommended, or disliked. However, if the oath concerns neglecting a duty, it is not permissible to uphold it; rather, one must break the oath immediately and pay the expiation (kaffārah). Similarly, if the oath involves committing a prohibited act, it is not permissible to do so, and one must likewise pay the expiation.