[Sūrah ii. 225]: “God will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oath, but he will punish you for that which your hearts have assented to.”
[Sūrah v. 91]: “God will not punish you for an inconsiderate word in your oaths, but he will punish you in regard to an oath taken seriously. Its expiation shall be to feed ten poor persons with such moderate food as ye feed your own families with, or to clothe them; or to set free a captive. But he who cannot find means shall fast three days.”
[Sūrah xvi. 96]: “Take not your oaths between you deceitfully.”
The following is the teaching of Muḥammad, as given in the Traditions:—
“Whoever swears to a thing and says, ‘If it please God,’ and acts contrary to his oath, it is no sin.”
“Swear not by idols or by your own fathers.”
“Swear not by God except it be to the truth.”
“Whoever swears by the prayers or by the fast, or by the pilgrimage, is not a Muslim.”
The Prophet used generally to swear in these words: “No, by the Turner of Hearts.”
According to the Hidāyah (Hamilton’s ed., vol. vi., pp. 1, 2), yamīn is constituted by the use of the name of Almighty God, or by any of those appellations by which the Deity is generally known or understood.