Fatwa No : 85362
May a Person Take an Oath if They Are Certain of Their Truthfulness?

May a Person Take an Oath if They Are Certain of Their Truthfulness?

What do the honorable Muftis say regarding the following issue: Zaid spoke to Bakr regarding getting some work done and said: “If you complete my task, I will give you a reward.” However, he did not specify any amount for the reward. Now, when Bakr has completed the work, he claims that Zaid had promised to give him ten thousand rupees, whereas Zaid says, “I did not specify any amount such as one thousand, two thousand, or ten thousand; rather, I only said that I would give a reward.” But Bakr is not accepting this and is asking Zaid to take an oath. Now Zaid, who is truthful in what he is saying and is certain that no specific amount was ever mentioned, wants to know: Can he take an oath on this matter? Would it be sinful? And is fulfilling this promise of giving a reward religiously obligatory?
(Note: There are no witnesses in this matter.)

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the mentioned scenario, giving a reward after the completion of the said work is not religiously obligatory, nor does this issue fall under any binding oath. However, if the claimant truly has no witnesses, and the defendant—being truthful—takes an oath, then he will not be sinful. Therefore, both parties should, through mutual understanding and considering the claimant’s effort in completing the task, agree upon a reasonable amount. They should avoid prolonging the matter further and prevent it from becoming a cause of mutual resentment.