What Is the Solemnized Oath (Al-Yamin Al-Mughallazah)?
ما هو اليمين المغلظ؟
What is the firm oath?
The answer defines the solemnized oath as swearing by Allah made weightier by place, such as beside the Ka'bah or in a mosque, and by time, such as after the prayer (Al-Ma'idah 5:106), in some serious claims, in the presence of a group of the town's notable and righteous people, at least four.
In Islamic law, an oath is already a serious matter. However, in certain critical disputes, the judge or community requires a "firm oath" to instill a deep fear of Allah in the heart of the person swearing, making it incredibly difficult for them to lie.
1. The Methods of Firmness
The firm oath is swearing by Allah, magnified by specific elements:
By Place: Like swearing next to the Ka'abah, or inside a mosque.
By Time: Like swearing after the prayer, when the atmosphere of faith is at its height.
2. The Quranic Evidence
The concept of firmly establishing an oath by time is directly derived from the Quran. When dealing with specific testimonies, Allah commands the believers to hold the witnesses after prayer to ensure they feel the gravity of their words.
Allah the Almighty says: (keep them after prayer and let them testify under oath.) Surah Al Ma'idah 5: 106.
3. Context and Witnesses
This oath is taken in some severe cases and serious legal claims where evidence might be lacking. To add to the psychological and spiritual weight, the firm oath occurs in the presence of a group of notables and righteous people of the town, the least of whom are four individuals.
ما هو اليمين المغلظ؟
يعرف الجواب اليمين المغلظة بأنها الحلف بالله مع تغليظه بالمكان كجوار الكعبة أو داخل المسجد، وبالزمان كعقب الصلاة (المائدة 5:106)، وتكون في بعض الدعاوى الخطيرة بحضور جمع من أعيان البلدة وصلحائها أقلهم أربعة.
في الشريعة الإسلامية، يعتبر القسم أمرا خطيرا بحد ذاته. ومع ذلك، في بعض النزاعات الحاسمة، يطلب القاضي أو المجتمع "يمينا مغلظة" لغرس خوف عميق من الله في قلب الحالف، مما يجعل الكذب أمرا في غاية الصعوبة.
طرق التغليظ
اليمين المغلظة هي: الحلف بالله، ويتم تغليظها بعناصر محددة:
بالمكان: كالحلف بجوار الكعبة، أو داخل المسجد.
بالزمان: كالحلف عقب الصلاة، حين تكون الأجواء الإيمانية في ذروتها.
الدليل القرآني
مفهوم تغليظ اليمين بالزمان مستمد مباشرة من القرآن الكريم. فعند التعامل مع شهادات معينة، يأمر الله بحبس الشهود بعد الصلاة لضمان شعورهم بخطورة كلماتهم.
قال الله تعالى: (تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِن بَعْدِ الصَّلَاةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ) المائدة 5: 106.
الدعاوى والشهود
وهذه الأيمان تكون في بعض الدعاوى الخطيرة التي قد تفتقر إلى الأدلة. ولإضافة وزن نفسي وروحي، فإن التغليظ يكون بحضور جمع من أعيان البلدة وصلحائها أقلهم أربعة أشخاص.
1. The Schools on Solemnizing Oaths | المذاهب في تغليظ اليمين
Solemnizing an oath by time and place is the position of the Shafi'is, the Hanbalis in one narration, and the Malikis in one view: by time, after the Asr prayer; by place, between the Maqam and the Corner in Makkah and at the pulpit in the Prophet's Mosque. The Hanafis hold that solemnizing by time and place is not permitted, and allow it only by the wording, mentioning Allah's attributes (al-Fiqh al-Muyassar).
تغليظ اليمين بالزمان والمكان مذهب الشافعية والحنابلة في رواية والمالكية في قول: فالتغليظ في الزمان أن تكون اليمين بعد صلاة العصر، والتغليظ في المكان بين المقام والركن في مكة، وفي المسجد النبوي عند المنبر، ويرى الحنفية أن التغليظ في الزمان والمكان غير جائز، ويكون عندهم باللفظ بذكر صفات الله تعالى (الفقه الميسر).
2. A False Oath at the Prophet's Pulpit | اليمين الآثمة عند المنبر
The Prophet said: No one swears a sinful oath at this pulpit of mine, even over a green tooth-stick, but he has taken his seat in the Fire, or: the Fire becomes his due (Sunan Abi Dawud 3246, graded sahih by al-Albani). This is the basis for solemnizing an oath by place.
قال النبي ﷺ: "لا يحلف أحد عند منبري هذا على يمين آثمة ولو على سواك أخضر إلا تبوأ مقعده من النار، أو وجبت له النار" (سنن أبي داود 3246، وصححه الألباني). وهذا أصل التغليظ بالمكان.
3. A False Oath After Asr | اليمين الكاذبة بعد العصر
The Prophet named, among three to whom Allah will not speak on the Day of Resurrection nor look at, a man who swears a false oath after Asr to take a Muslim's wealth (Sahih al-Bukhari 2369). This is the basis for solemnizing by time, together with Al-Ma'idah 5:106, which tells the believers to detain the two witnesses after the prayer so that they swear by Allah.
تَحْبِسُونَهُمَا مِن بَعْدِ الصَّلَاةِ فَيُقْسِمَانِ بِاللَّهِ (سورة المائدة: 106)
ذكر النبي ﷺ من الثلاثة الذين لا يكلمهم الله يوم القيامة ولا ينظر إليهم: "ورجل حلف على يمين كاذبة بعد العصر ليقتطع بها مال رجل مسلم" (صحيح البخاري 2369). وهذا أصل التغليظ بالزمان، مع قوله تعالى (المائدة 5:106): تحبسونهما من بعد الصلاة فيقسمان بالله.
Scholarly Insight: The solemnized oath is a deterrent against false oaths in serious claims. It draws on the Prophet's warnings: a sinful oath at his pulpit earns the Fire (Sunan Abi Dawud 3246), and a false oath after Asr to take a Muslim's wealth is among the sins for which Allah will not speak to a person on the Day of Resurrection (Sahih al-Bukhari 2369). The Shafi'is, the Hanbalis in one narration, and the Malikis in one view solemnize by time and place, while the Hanafis do not (al-Fiqh al-Muyassar). Read more in the tafsir of Surah Al-Ma'idah.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
What makes an oath a solemnized oath?
The answer explains that it is swearing by Allah made weightier by place, such as beside the Ka'bah or in a mosque, and by time, such as after the prayer, in the presence of a group of righteous people.
How many people should be present?
The answer says a group of the town's notable and righteous people, the least of whom are four.
Why is the oath taken after the prayer?
Allah told the believers to detain the two witnesses after the prayer so that they swear by Allah (Al-Ma'idah 5:106), and the Prophet warned against a false oath after Asr (Sahih al-Bukhari 2369).
Do all schools solemnize oaths by time and place?
No. The Shafi'is, the Hanbalis in one narration, and the Malikis in one view do; the Hanafis do not, and solemnize only by mentioning Allah's attributes (al-Fiqh al-Muyassar).
Prepared by Eng. Ghada Homad, founder of IslamFAQ, researched and written in consultation with qualified scholars, reviewed by Professor Khaled Jassem Al-Houli, Associate Professor of Comparative Jurisprudence and Islamic Politics, Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies, University of Kuwait. Read more about the authors and this project →