Fatwa ID: 03542

Answered by: Alimah Sumeyye Sofu

Question

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa barakatu hu

Please tell me the kaffara for swearing an oath on Allah Almighty and not fulfilling the oath?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

If a person made an oath using the following expressions, “I swear by Allah”, “By Allah I will not do this”, or “I make this action haram upon myself” and then broke the oath, he will be liable to pay kaffarah.[1]

The Kaffrah (expiation) of breaking an oath is mentioned in the Holy Quran. Allah ta'ala says; “……its expiation is to feed ten poor people at an average of what you feed your family with or to clothe them or to free a slave. And whoever finds none shall fast for three days. That is the expiation for your oaths which you have sworn…” (Surah Maaidah v.89)

In this verse, the first expiation used in connection with Kaffarah of oaths is “itam.” This could either mean ‘feed’ or ‘give food’ to someone, hence, the jurists have said that the individuals can invite ten poor persons and feed them or he can give the food in their possession. In the first situation, it is necessary that he should feed ten poor persons two meals of the day to take their fill, and in the second situation he should give to each of the ten poor persons at the rate of one fitrah per person, that is:

1. Approximately 1.6kg of wheat

2. Approximately 3.2kg of barley

3. Or the equivalent of the above in cash.

If a person is unable to feed the poor then he would fast for three days consecutively according to the Hanafi Fiqh.[2]

For more information please check the following website; https://daruliftabirmingham.co.uk/kaffaarah-for-breaking-a-vow/

Only Allah knows best

Written by Alimah Sumeyye Sofu

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

[1] Raddul Muhtar p.707 v.3 Darul Kutub ilmiyyah

[2] Raddul Muhtar p.532 v.2 Darul kutub ilmiyyah & Maariful Quran p.244 v.3 Maktaba e Darul uloom Karachi