Surah Al-Maaida (5) — Ayah 87

87. 1. It is mentioned in a hadith that a person came to the Prophet and said, "O Messenger of Allah! When I eat meat, carnal desire overcomes me, so I have made meat forbidden upon myself." Upon this, the verse was revealed. In addition to the reason for revelation, it is also established from other narrations that some companions, for the sake of asceticism and worship, wanted to abstain from some lawful things (for example, from marrying women, sleeping at night, and eating and drinking during the day). When this matter came to the knowledge of the Prophet, he forbade them. Hazrat Uthman bin Maz'un had also withdrawn from his wife; upon his wife's complaint, the Prophet stopped him as well (books of hadith). In any case, from this verse and hadith, it is understood that it is not permissible to declare any of the things made lawful by Allah as forbidden, or to abstain from them without reason, whether it relates to food and drink, beverages, clothing, or desirable and lawful wishes. Issue: In this way, if a person declares something forbidden upon himself, it will not become forbidden except in the case of a woman. However, in this case, some scholars say that he will have to pay the expiation for an oath, and according to some, expiation is not necessary. Imam Shawkani says that this is supported by authentic ahadith because the Prophet ﷺ did not order anyone to pay the expiation for an oath. Imam Ibn Kathir states that after this verse, Allah has mentioned the expiation for an oath, from which it is understood that declaring a lawful thing forbidden is at the level of taking an oath, which requires expiation. But this reasoning, in the presence of authentic ahadith, is questionable. So the correct view is what Shawkani has said.