In the vast ocean of Islamic literature, few works hold the weight and authority of the Musannaf of Imam Ibn Abi Shaybah. As one of the earliest encyclopedic collections of hadith and narrations from the Salaf (early generations), it serves as a crucial bridge between the prophetic era and the codification of Islamic law. For researchers, students of knowledge, and historians, referencing a specific hadith by its number—such as —opens a window into the intricate development of Fiqh (jurisprudence) and the methodology of the early scholars.
– Some early authorities (e.g., Zayd ibn Thabit, per other athar in the Musannaf ) held that one must fulfill the original oath unless it involves sin. Ibn Mas‘ud’s position is more permissive: even a morally neutral oath can be broken for a marginally “better” action. musannaf ibn abi shaybah 11611
To appreciate the weight of Hadith 11611, one must first understand the stature of the man who compiled it. Imam Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Shaybah al-Kufi (d. 235 AH) was a titan of Hadith preservation. He lived during the golden age of hadith compilation, a contemporary of giants like Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Imam al-Bukhari. In the vast ocean of Islamic literature, few