Jamiatul Ulama KZN

The penalty for breaking an oath

· 29 Rabiʻ I 1431 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

I swore an oath for the sake of Allah and broke it. How can I atone for my sin?

Answer

As Muslims, we should constantly be conscious of the grandeur and majesty of our Creator. A true Muslim never takes the name of Allah in jest nor does he take an oath in the name of Allah for trivial issues. The name of Allah should be taken with utmost reverence and respect, especially when taking an oath. It is for this reason that a penalty has been imposed on a person for not fulfilling his oath if taken in the name of Allah. The Kaffarah (atonement) for breaking the oath is to feed ten poor people the average type of meal (the value of one meal is the value of 1.6kg of flour or wheat), or clothe them, or if he is unable to afford this, he will have to fast three days consecutively.

Allah does not hold you accountable for your laghw (ineffectual) oaths, but He does hold you accountable for the oath with which you have bound yourself. Its expiation is to feed ten poor persons at an average of what you feed your family with, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. However, if someone cannot afford, he has to fast for three days. That is expiation for the oaths that you have sworn. Take care of your oaths. That is how Allah makes His signs clear to you, so that you may be grateful. – (Surah al-Ma’idah, Verse: 89)

And Allah Knows Best

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمُ الْأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

Answered by
Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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Source: Jamiatul Ulama KZN — https://jamiat.org.za/the-penalty-for-breaking-an-oath/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/jamiat-702

People also ask

What is the kaffaarah for breaking an oath?

“In order to absolve him of the oath he had taken, it is permissible for him to discharge kaffaarah on behalf of each oath that he had broken. The kaffarah is to feed 10 poor people two meals or give them the amount of sadaqatul…”

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