(… حَلَّافٍ… ) (…habitual swearer …): When we contemplate on the Holy Quran we find that (swear) is always refer to false swearing whereas (an oath) refers to both true and false swear. For example, in the verse:

 ذَٰلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ ۚ

(That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn.) (Al-Maida: 89)

As there is an expiation, this means it is a false oath. If we review all the verses which contain a swear in the Holy Quran, we find that it always indicates the false one. In Surah at-Tawba for example, the false swear is mentioned seven times, so that some called it the Surah of (to swear) because this word is mentioned in this Surah more than any other Surah. Whereas, in Surahs al-Maida and an-Nisa, the swear is mentioned just one time and in Surah al-Mujadila, it is mentioned 3 times.

This verse of the study, Allah (swt) orders the Prophet not to obey every one who swears frequently. Some said that this verse was revealed because of al-Akhnas bin Shurayq and others said it was revealed because of al-walid bin al-Mughira or al-Aswad bin ‘Abd Yaghoth. However, this verse is not intended for a specific person, rather it refers to anyone who always swears.

(  مَّهِينٍ… ) (…worthless): Means, every inconsiderable person, who is of a poor discretion. The person should keep his oath as Allah (swt) orders us:

 وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ

(But guard your oaths) (Al-Maida: 89)

The early Arabis used to praise the person who rarely swears.

The wisdom behind Allah’s order not to swear frequently is that when one swears by Allah (swt) for every matter, swearing may become an easy matter for him so that he swears to false matters.

(… وَلَا تُطِعْ ) (And do not obey…): Obedience is manifested in applying Allah’s orders of (do) and (do not). The disbelievers asked the Prophet (saws) not to gather them with the poor in one place. However, Allah (swt) wanted him to honour those poor people and prohibited him from driving them away. In this regard, Allah (swt) orders the Prophet (saws) not to obey those who offered him wealth against leaving the call to Islam, as al-Walid bin al-Mughira who was a worthless merchant, Allah (swt) says:

 وَلَا تُطِعْ مِنْهُمْ آثِمًا أَوْ كَفُورًا

(and do not obey from among them a sinner or ungrateful .)
(Al-Insan: 24)

Then Allah (swt) mentions other descriptions of the worthless habitual swearer: