Volume 7, Book 67, Number 427:
Narrated Zahdam:
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 Apostle eating of it (i.e. chicken).” He said, “I have seen it eating
something (dirty) and since then I have disliked it, and have taken an oath that I shall not eat it ‘ Abu
Volume 7 – 1236 / 1700
SAHIH BUKHARI VOLUME 7 > BOOK 67: HUNTING, SLAUGHTERING
Musa said, “Come on, I will tell you (or narrate to you). Once I went to Allah s Apostle with a group
of Al-Ash’ariyin, and met him while he was angry, distributing some camels of Rakat. 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 of booty were brought to Allah’s Apostle and he asked
twice, ‘Where are Al-Ash’ariyin?” So he gave us five white camels with big humps. We stayed for a
short while (after we had covered a little distance), and then I said to my companions, “Allah’s
Apostle has forgotten his oath. By Allah, if we do not remind Allah’s Apostle of his oath, we will never
be successful.” So we returned to the Prophet and said, “O Allah’s Apostle! 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.’ “