Section: It is recommended to respond to one who asks by Allah, because of what Ibn Umar narrated, saying: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever seeks refuge by Allah, give him refuge; whoever asks of you by Allah, give him; whoever seeks protection by Allah, grant him protection; and whoever does you a kindness, compensate him. If you do not find [anything with which to compensate him], then pray for him until you feel that you have compensated him." And from Abu Dharr, he said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Three [types of people] whom Allah loves, and three whom Allah hates. As for those whom Allah loves: a man who asked a group of people by Allah, and did not ask them by any kinship between him and them, so a man followed behind them and gave him secretly, with no one knowing of his gift except Allah the Almighty and the one who gave it; a group of people who traveled throughout their night until sleep became more beloved to them than anything comparable, so they laid down their heads, but [one of them] stood up, supplicating to Me and reciting My verses; and a man who was in a military expedition, so they met the enemy and were defeated, but he advanced with his chest [forward] until he was killed or victory was granted to him. And the three whom Allah hates: the aging adulterer, the arrogant poor man, and the oppressive rich man." Narrated by al-Nasa'i (44).

Section: If a person says, "I have sworn," while he has not sworn, Ahmad said: It is a lie, and no oath is binding upon him. Another opinion states: Expiation is due upon him, because he has made an admission against himself. The first view is the established madhhab (school), because it is a legal judgment (45) between him and Allah the Almighty, so if he lies in stating it, its ruling does not bind him, just as if he were to say, "I did not pray," while he had already prayed. If he said, "I have an oath upon me," and intended to report an event, it is like the preceding case. If he intended a vow/oath, Abu al-Khattab said: It is an oath. This is the opinion of the Hanafis (Ashab al-Ra'y). Al-Shafi'i said: It is not an oath, because he did not use the exalted Name of Allah or His Attribute, so it does not constitute an oath, just as if he had said, "I have sworn." This is more correct, if Allah wills; for this is not the formula of a vow or an oath; rather, it is a formula of reporting, so