Fatwa

Recompense of a broken oath

Fatwa #1012 Category: Miscellaneous Country: Zambia Date: 12th March 2024
Fatwa #1012 Date: 12th March 2024
Category: Miscellaneous
Country: Zambia

Question

Peace be upon you (Assalamualaikum).

Having committed to forgiving certain sins upon receiving a particular blessing, I later transgressed despite my pledge. Being a student and reliant on my family, they indicated their disinterest in feeding 10 poor individuals as expiation for my breach of oath. Consequently, I undertook a 12-day fast. Would this be deemed sufficient, or is it necessary for me to additionally feed 10 poor individuals as prescribed for breaking the oath?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The expiation for a broken oath is to clothe ten poor people or feed ten poor people. If one is unable to do this, then he should fast three consecutive days.[1]

You state that you do not have the capacity to clothe or feed ten poor people, accordingly your expiation is complete as you fasted for more than 3 days. 3 days of the fast will expiate your oath and you will be rewarded for 9 days of voluntary fasts.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Bilal Pandor

Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel

Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia

www.daruliftaazambia.com

الهداية في شرح بداية المبتدي (2/ 319) [1]

قال: ” كفارة اليمين عتق رقبة يجزي فيها ما يجزي في الظهار وإن شاء كسا عشرة مساكين كل واحد ثوبا فما زاد وأدناه ما يجوز فيه الصلاة وإن شاء أطعم عشرة مساكين كالإطعام في كفارة الظهار ” والأصل فيه قوله تعالى: {فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ} [المائدة: 89] الآية وكلمة أو للتخيير فكان الواجب أحد الأشياء الثلاثة قال: ” فإن لم يقدر على أحد الأشياء الثلاثة صام ثلاثة أيام متتابعات