It is not Permissible to take an Oath by anything other than by Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. . . I swear by the night when it becomes dark. . .’ (92:2) and ‘. . . I swear by the star when it descends down’ (52:2) and so on. Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, swears by anything of His creatures as He wants but His creatures can only swear and take oath by Allah.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I say that a man must take an oath and swear by Allah only. People’s saying, la’ bal shane ’uka (no, but may your adversary be it) is of the expressions of the people of ignorance. If one takes an oath by such expressions and so on, he has ignored taking an oath by Allah. One’s expression, Ya Hayahu and ya Hanahu is only a pausing and punctuating effort to better articulate one’s idea. However, one’s saying la’umr Allah or Lahahu is swearing by Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I say that a man must take an oath and swear by Allah only. People’s saying, la’ bal shane ’uka (no, but may your adversary be it) is of the expressions of the people of ignorance.’”

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘I do not swear by the places of the stars.’ (56:75) Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘People of the community of ignorance swore by the places of stars and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said, “I do not swear by the places of stars.’” He (the Imam) said that He called their swearing as such a grave thing. He (the Imam) has said that people of the time of ignorance held the month of Muharram to be a great thing. They would not swear thereby as well as the month of Rajab and did not disturb in these months those going and coming around even if he may have killed one’s father. They would not expel from al- Haram (the Sacred area) an animal or sheep or camel and so on. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said to His Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, ‘I do not swear by this town and you are living in this town.’ (90:2-3) He (the Imam) said that their ignorance had climaxed to the level of making them to consider the killing of the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, as lawful. On the contrary they held days of the month with greatness whereby they swore and stood by such oaths.’”

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘I do not swear by the places of the stars.’ (56:75) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is a great sin on one who swears thereby. The community of ignorance held al-Haram (the sacred area) with greatness. They did not swear thereby. They made lawful to disrespect Allah but they did not disturbed those who were there and did not expel animals from there. Allah, most Blessed, most High, said, ‘I do not swear by this town despite your living in it and by the father and son.’ (90:2-3) He (the Imam) said, ‘They held the town with greatness to the extent that they swore thereby but made it lawful to disrespect the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause.”’