English translation
3133. Narrated Zahdam: Once, we were in the house of Abū Mūsā who presented a meal containing cooked chicken. A man from the tribe of Banī Taimillāh with red complexion as if from the Byzantine war prisoners, was also present. Abū Mūsā invited him to share the meal but he (apologized) saying, "I saw chickens eating dirty things and so I have had a strong aversion to eating them, and have taken an oath that I will not eat chickens." Abū Mūsā said, "Come along, I will tell you about this matter (i.e., how to cancel one's oath). I went to the Prophet ﷺ in the company of a group of Al-Ash'ariyūn, asked him to provide us with means of conveyance. He said, 'By Allāh, I will not provide you with any means of conveyance and I have nothing to make you ride on.' Then some camels as booty were brought to Allāh's Messenger ﷺ and he asked for us saying, 'Where is the group of Al-Ash'ariyūn?' Then he ordered that we should be given five camels with white humps. When we set out we said, 'What have we done? We will never be blessed (with what we have been given).' So, we returned to the Prophet ﷺ and said, 'We asked you to provide us with means of conveyance, but you took an oath that you would not provide us with any means of conveyance. Did you forget (your oath when you gave us the camels)?' He replied. 'I have not provided you with means of conveyance, but Allāh has provided you with it, and by Allāh, if Allāh will, if ever I take an oath to do something, and later on I find that it is more beneficial to do something different, I will do the thing which is better, and give expiation for my oath'."
