It is narrated on the authority of Abdullah (b. Umar) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ observed: He who perjured with a view to appropriating the property of a Muslim, and he is in fact a liar and would meet Allah in a state that He would be angry with him. He (the narrator) said: There came Ash'ath b. Qais and said (to the people): What does Abu Abdur-Rahman (the Kunya of Abdullah b. Umar) narrate to you? They replied: So and so. Upon this he remarked: Abu Abdur-Rahman told the truth. This (command) has been revealed in my case. There was a piece of land in Yemen over which I and another person had a claim. I brought the dispute with him to the Apostle of Allah (to decide) He (the Holy Prophet) said: Can you produce an evidence (in your support)? I said: No. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: (Then the decision would be made) on his oath. I said: He would readily take an oath. Upon this the Messenger of Allah ﷺ remarked: He who perjured for appropriating the wealth of a Muslim, whereas he is a liar, would meet Allah while He would be angry with him. This verse was then revealed:" Verily those who barter Allah's covenant and their oaths at a small price..." (iii 77).

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَوَكِيعٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ يَقْتَطِعُ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ هُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " . قَالَ فَدَخَلَ الأَشْعَثُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ فَقَالَ مَا يُحَدِّثُكُمْ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالُوا كَذَا وَكَذَا . قَالَ صَدَقَ أَبُو عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ فِيَّ نَزَلَتْ كَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ رَجُلٍ أَرْضٌ بِالْيَمَنِ فَخَاصَمْتُهُ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ " هَلْ لَكَ بَيِّنَةٌ " . فَقُلْتُ لاَ . قَالَ " فَيَمِينُهُ " . قُلْتُ إِذًا يَحْلِفُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ " مَنْ حَلَفَ عَلَى يَمِينِ صَبْرٍ يَقْتَطِعُ بِهَا مَالَ امْرِئٍ مُسْلِمٍ هُوَ فِيهَا فَاجِرٌ لَقِيَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ غَضْبَانُ " . فَنَزَلَتْ { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلاً} إِلَى آخِرِ الآيَةِ .