Is It Permissible to Frequently Swear by the Quran, the Prophet, or the Kaaba?

Dr. Ahmed Al-Awady, Secretary of Fatwa at Egypt’s Dar Al-Ifta, emphasized that swearing by revered religious symbols such as the Holy Quran, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, or the Kaaba should be limited to exceptional situations and should never become a daily habit.

He explained that oaths are intended for situations that genuinely require confirmation or testimony, not for ordinary conversations or routine speech.

When Should an Oath Be Used?

According to Dr. Al-Awady, an oath should only be used when there is a real need, such as giving testimony or confirming an important matter.

He cited the Quranic verse:

"And do not make Allah an excuse because of your oaths."

He explained that this verse teaches Muslims to honor and respect the seriousness of taking an oath and to avoid using it carelessly or excessively.

Excessive Swearing Can Harm Credibility

Dr. Ahmed Al-Awady stressed that honesty is the foundation of a Muslim’s character.

A truthful person does not need to constantly swear to convince others, and frequent oaths may eventually weaken a person's credibility and trustworthiness.

Respecting Sacred Matters

He also urged Muslims to recognize the sanctity of what they swear by and to avoid making sacred matters part of casual speech.

True sincerity and honesty, he noted, are far more valuable to Allah than repeatedly making oaths.

Does Saying "By Divorce" Count as Divorce?

In a related clarification, Sheikh Mohamed Abdel Samee, Secretary of Fatwa at Dar Al-Ifta Egypt, explained that the phrase "By divorce" (ʿAlayya Al-Talaq) is not considered an actual divorce by itself.

Instead, Dar Al-Ifta classifies it as a solemn oath, similar to other binding oaths, meaning that violating it does not end the marriage.

However, the person who breaks such an oath must offer the expiation (Kaffarah) for an oath, which includes feeding ten needy people or fulfilling one of the other prescribed forms of expiation according to Islamic law.

Dar Al-Ifta Advises Muslims to Avoid Swearing by Divorce

Dar Al-Ifta strongly advises Muslims not to use divorce as a form of oath because it can create unnecessary family disputes and misunderstandings.

Instead, Muslims are encouraged to either swear by Allah when genuinely necessary or avoid making oaths altogether.

Does Divorce Count During Extreme Anger?

Dar Al-Ifta scholars also explained that divorce may not be considered valid if a person reaches a level of extreme anger that causes a complete loss of awareness and self-control.

This understanding is based on authentic prophetic teachings regarding divorce pronounced while a person is in a state of "closure" or complete mental incapacity.

Is it permissible to frequently swear by the Quran, the Prophet, or the Kaaba?

Dr. Ahmed Al-Awady explained that such oaths should be limited to genuine necessity and should not become part of everyday speech.

Why does Islam discourage excessive swearing?

Because honesty should be sufficient, and excessive swearing may reduce a person's credibility and diminish the dignity of oaths.

Does saying "By divorce" automatically result in divorce?

No. According to Dar Al-Ifta Egypt, it is treated as a solemn oath rather than an actual divorce.

What happens if someone breaks a "By divorce" oath?

The person must offer the prescribed Kaffarah (expiation for an oath), such as feeding ten needy people, while the marriage remains valid.

Does divorce take effect during extreme anger?

Dar Al-Ifta explains that if a person completely loses awareness and self-control due to extreme anger, the divorce may not be considered valid under Islamic jurisprudence.