I wander what the ruling is on swearing in the name of Allah regarding subjective things, which different people can interpret differently, for example “Wallahi, this food tastes good”, or “Wallahi he paints beautiful pictures”. Is this permissible?

Also, what would be the ruling on swearing regarding a thing which you believe is true, but which later turns out to be not true? For example, is “Person 1” in the following example obliged to offer expiation for a broken oath?  Person 1: “I visited my brother on Wednesday”. Person 2: “Wallahi?” Person 1: “Yes…. or wait a minute, when I think of it I visited him on Tuesday”.

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.  

Answer  

It is best that oaths are not used for subjective matters.

Oath is based on intentions. If you made the intention of an oath from the words Wallahi, then it will be an oath. Otherwise, it would not.

Regarding your second question, as the first person didn’t say Wallahi, an oath would not be established.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham