Making an Exception in an Oath

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, . . speak of your Lord if you forget’ (18:24) abu Ja‘far, and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, have said that if one takes an oath and forgets to make an exception, he must make an exception (say, ‘if Allah wills’) when he remembers.”

“This is about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious. ‘. . . We made a covenant with Adam (a.s.), before but he forgot and We did not find in him firm determination.’ (20:115) Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘When Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, said to Adam (a.s.), to enter in the garden (paradises) He said, “O Adam, you must not go near this tree.’” He (the Imam) said that He showed it to him and Adam said to his Lord, “How will I go near the tree when You have prohibited me and my wife?” He (the Imam) said that Allah said to them not to go near the tree meaning do not eat thereof. Adam and his wife said, “Yes, Lord we will not go near the tree and will not eat”, but they did not make an exception (did not say, ‘if Allah wills’) when saying, “yes” Allah, in that matter left them on their own and to their memories.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, spoke to His Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, about a fact in the book. “. . . You must never say about anything, ‘I will do it tomorrow without saying, ‘unless Allah wills’ otherwise,” (18:23) and Allah decides that I must not do then I will not be able to do.’ He (the Imam) said that for this reason Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, ‘. . . you must speak of your Lord when you forget’, meaning make the act and the will of Allah an exception in your act.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . speak of your Lord if you forget.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in taking oath when you say, ‘By Allah, I will not do so and so and when you remember that you have forgotten to make an exception then say, ‘if Allah so wills.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A servant (of Allah) can make the exception up to forty days if he forgets.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘If one makes the exception in taking an oath there is no violation or expiation.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), has said, ‘The forgotten exception in taking an oath must be made even if one remembers after forty mornings.’ He (the Imam) then read this verse, . . speak of your Lord if you forget.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘If one takes an oath privately, he must make the exception privately; and if one takes an oath in public, he must make the exception in public.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . speak of your Lord if you forget.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is when you take an oath and forget to make the exception (saying if Allah so wills), then you must make the exception when you remember.’”