Source: Fatawa ‘Ulama-e-Hadith, Kitab al-Salah, Volume 1
Alternatively, if that person feeds one, two, or three poor people daily at a hotel or elsewhere, until the count of ten needy individuals is reached, is that also permissible according to Shariah?
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا...﴾ [آل عمران: 77]
"Indeed, those who exchange Allah’s covenant and their oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection..."
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«الكبائر الإشراك بالله، وعقوق الوالدين، وقتل النفس، واليمين الغموس»
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
"Major sins are: associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, unjust killing, and false oath (al-yamīn al-ghamūs)."
❖ There is no prescribed expiation for a false oath, but the person must:
Allah ﷻ explains the kaffārah for such broken oaths:
﴿فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ...﴾ [المائدة: 89]
"...the expiation is to feed ten poor people from the average of what you feed your family, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. But whoever cannot find (any of these), then let him fast three days..."
You may transfer the equivalent amount to a reliable charity (e.g., Saylani Welfare Trust), appointing them as your agent (wakīl) to feed ten needy individuals.
This is permissible.
✔ Feeding the Needy in Increments:
Feeding 1–3 poor persons per day until the total reaches 10 is also valid in Shariah, as long as the total number is met.
و الله أعلم
(And Allah knows best)
❀ Question:
If a person swears a false oath in the name of Allah, later feels remorse, repents, and wants to offer expiation (kaffārah), can they donate money to a charitable organization (e.g., Saylani Welfare Trust) so that the organization can feed the poor on their behalf? Would this be considered a valid expiation?Alternatively, if that person feeds one, two, or three poor people daily at a hotel or elsewhere, until the count of ten needy individuals is reached, is that also permissible according to Shariah?
❖ Ruling on False Oaths
Swearing a false oath is a major sin (kabīrah) in Islam, particularly when one does so deliberately or to unlawfully obtain another’s right.Allah ﷻ says:
﴿إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَشْتَرُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَيْمَانِهِمْ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا...﴾ [آل عمران: 77]
"Indeed, those who exchange Allah’s covenant and their oaths for a small price will have no share in the Hereafter, and Allah will neither speak to them nor look at them on the Day of Resurrection..."
The Prophet ﷺ also said:
«الكبائر الإشراك بالله، وعقوق الوالدين، وقتل النفس، واليمين الغموس»
— Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī
"Major sins are: associating partners with Allah, disobedience to parents, unjust killing, and false oath (al-yamīn al-ghamūs)."
❖ There is no prescribed expiation for a false oath, but the person must:
- Repent sincerely (taubah),
- Seek forgiveness abundantly, and
- Return any rights or property wrongfully taken (if applicable).
❖ Expiation for Oaths Related to Future Acts
If the oath was about a future act—e.g., "I swear I won’t do such-and-such"—and the person then does the act, expiation becomes obligatory.Allah ﷻ explains the kaffārah for such broken oaths:
﴿فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ...﴾ [المائدة: 89]
"...the expiation is to feed ten poor people from the average of what you feed your family, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. But whoever cannot find (any of these), then let him fast three days..."
❖ Valid Methods of Expiation
✔ Appointing a Trustworthy Charity as Agent:You may transfer the equivalent amount to a reliable charity (e.g., Saylani Welfare Trust), appointing them as your agent (wakīl) to feed ten needy individuals.
This is permissible.
✔ Feeding the Needy in Increments:
Feeding 1–3 poor persons per day until the total reaches 10 is also valid in Shariah, as long as the total number is met.
❖ Who is Considered "Needy" (Miskīn)?
A miskīn is someone:- Who lacks sufficient means to meet basic needs, or
- Faces hardship in fulfilling essential living requirements.
و الله أعلم
(And Allah knows best)
