What is the ruling on swearing by other than Allah?
Short answer
Swearing by other than Allah is forbidden, and the scholars made clear that it is minor shirk in principle, unless accompanied by a belief that requires major shirk.
Evidence and explanation
The Shaykh cited the hadith “Whoever swears by other than Allah has disbelieved or committed shirk” and the hadith “Whoever is going to swear, let him swear by Allah or remain silent.”
Scholar referenced
This editorial summary is based on the original source linked below and is not presented as a verbatim quotation from the scholar.
From the text of the answer (Arabic, with an English translation)
Original answer — Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin
هل الحلف بغير الله شرك ؟ — محتوى ١١٠٣٦- Question
«بارك الله فيكم فضيلة الشيخ، هذا السائل مصري يقول: الحلف بغير الله، هل هو شرك؟»
English translation (unreviewed): May Allah bless you, Shaykh. This Egyptian questioner says: Swearing by other than Allah: is it shirk?
- From the text of the answer
«الشيخ: الحلف بغير الله شرك؛ لقول النبي صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم: «من حلف بغير الله فقد كفر أو أشرك»، لكنه ليس شركاً أكبر مخرجاً من الملة، بل هو شرك أصغر، اللهم إلا أن يقع في قلب الحالف بغير الله، أن منزلة هذا المحلوف به كمنزلة الله، فحينئذ يكون شركاً أكبر بناء على ما حصل في قلبه من هذه العقيدة، وإلا فمجرد الحلف بغير الله شرك أصغر، وقد قال النبي عليه الصلاة والسلام: «من كان حالفا فليحلف بالله أو ليصمت»، نعم.»
English translation (unreviewed): The Shaykh: Swearing by other than Allah is shirk, because of the saying of the Prophet, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him and his family: “Whoever swears by other than Allah has disbelieved or committed shirk”; but it is not major shirk that takes one out of the religion; rather it is minor shirk, unless it occurs in the heart of the one swearing by other than Allah that the status of the thing sworn by is like the status of Allah, in which case it becomes major shirk on the basis of what occurred in his heart of this belief; otherwise, mere swearing by other than Allah is minor shirk. And the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “Whoever is going to swear, let him swear by Allah or remain silent.” Yes.
The Arabic excerpts matched the original page word for word by an automated check and have not had human scholarly review. The English translations are unreviewed translations made for this site; they are not an approved Shari‘ah translation. Rely on the Arabic original.
Source
Is swearing by other than Allah shirk?
Title of the original page (Arabic): هل الحلف بغير الله شرك؟
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-‘Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on him