Translator’s note: The Shaykh is referring to the following narration:
Zahdam said: We were in the company of Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari and there were friendly relations between us and this tribe of Jarm. Abu Musa was presented with a dish containing chicken. Among the people there was sitting a red-faced man who did not come near the food. Abu Musa said (to him), "Come on (and eat), for I have seen Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم eating of it (i.e. chicken)." He said, "I have seen it (the chicken) eating something (dirty) and since then I have disliked it, and have taken an oath that I shall not eat it ' Abu Musa said, "Come, I will narrate to you (that which will allow you to break your oath). Once I went to the Messenger of Allah with a group of Al-Ash`ariyin, and met him while he was angry, distributing some camels of charity. We asked for mounts but he took an oath that he would not give us any mounts, and added, 'I have nothing to mount you on' In the meantime some camels from war booty were brought to the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم
and he asked twice, 'Where are Al-Ash`ariyin?" So he gave us five
white camels with big humps. We covered a short distance, and then I said to my companions; " The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم has forgotten his oath. By Allah, if we do not remind him
of his oath, we will never be successful." So we returned to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and said, "O Messenger of Allah! We asked you for mounts, but you took an oath that you would not give us any mounts; we think that you have forgotten your oath.' He said, 'It is Allah Who has given you mounts. By Allah; and Allah willing, if I take an oath and later find something else better than that; then I do what is better and expiate my oath. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5518)
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-Uthaymeen (raheemahuallaah)
Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee
Presented to you by Markaz Tawheed was-Sunnah in Durham, NC
