Surah al-Baqarah (The Cow) 2 : 225

The scholars are unanimous that Surah al-Baqarah is Madani and that it was the first Surah revealed in Madinah. [Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari no. 160/8].

Despite it being the first Surah to be revealed in Madinah, it contains Ayaat from a later period also. In fact, according to Ibn Abbas [as mentioned in Ibn Kathir] the last Ayat revealed to the Prophet was Ayat no. 281 from Surah al-Baqarah and this occurred 8 days or so before his death [which corresponds to the year 11 Hijri].

The accepted interpretation of the opening part of this passage is that attributed to `Abdullāh ibn `Abbās who is quoted as saying: “Do not allow the fact that you have made an oath prevent you from doing what is good and righteous; rather, do what is right and atone for your oath.” According to Ibn Kathīr, a similar view is attributed to a host of leading scholars.

To support this interpretation, the Prophet’s statement, reported by Abū Hurayrah and related by Muslim, is often quoted. The Prophet said: “Whoever made an oath and later realized that it would be better to do something different, let him atone for his oath and do what is better.” Al-Bukhārī cites the statement reported by Abū Hurayrah that the Prophet said: “For someone to insist on honouring his oath concerning his relationship with his wife is, in God’s sight, far worse than to relent and pay the atonement God has prescribed for going back on an oath.”

A case in point is the vow made by Abū Bakr, the Prophet’s leading Companion, that he would never forgive one of his relatives, Misţaĥ, for taking part in the campaign to slander the Prophet’s wife, `Ā’ishah, who was also Abū Bakr’s daughter.

On that occasion a passage was revealed, declaring `Ā’ishah’s innocence of what was said against her. Then a verse follows in the same sūrah calling on believers to always choose the better course of action. This verse may be translated as follows: “Let not those of you who have been graced with God’s favour and are well-off withhold their generosity from their relatives, or the needy, or those who leave their homes for the cause of God. Let them forgive and forebear. Do you not wish that God should forgive you your sins? God is much-Forgiving, Merciful.” (24: 22) Abū Bakr relented and atoned for his oath, and reinstated his generous help to Misţaĥ.

God is even more gracious in offering this concession not only for inadvertent vows that need no atonement, but also for vows made in earnest and with full intention. The Prophet was reported to have often overlooked off-hand or casual vows made out of habit or in the heat of the moment. Premeditated vows must be revoked and atoned for, if keeping them results in, or leads to, something evil, harmful or inequitable. Some jurists, however, are of the opinion that making a false vow, knowing that it is false, can never be atoned for. Mālik says in his famous book, al-Muwaţţa’: “The best I have heard on this subject is that a casual vow is made in total good faith. If it is subsequently proven to be false, it requires no atonement. If a false vow is made deliberately, with the intention of appeasing someone, or for material gain, that is too grave to be atoned for.”