✦ Ruling on Paying the Expiation (Kafārah) of an Oath to an Organization ✦
Question:
If someone wishes to give the kafārah (expiation) for breaking an oath in the form of money, but cannot find any needy person nearby (e.g. while living in France), is it permissible to send the amount to a trustworthy organization that feeds the poor in another country?
Answer by:
◈ Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh
◈ Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
According to both scholars:
✔ The primary objective of kafārah is to benefit the poor and needy — either by feeding them or clothing them, as prescribed in the Qur'an.
Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh says:
“It is not possible that in any society, every person is wealthy. The poor and needy exist in every region.”
Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh adds:
“If no poor person is available nearby, a person can appoint someone as a wakīl (representative) to deliver the kafārah on his behalf to deserving recipients.”
✔ Sending your kafārah amount to a reliable charitable organization that feeds the poor in another country is permissible.
This falls under the Islamic concept of wakālah (representation).
Many organizations already specialize in distributing:
So long as the organization is trustworthy and delivers the food to genuinely needy individuals, it is acceptable.
If one truly cannot feed ten needy people or appoint someone else to do so, then the Qur'an allows:
➡ Fasting for three consecutive days as a valid form of expiation.
① Kafārah must be given to the needy.
② It can be fulfilled through a trustworthy organization (as a wakīl).
③ There’s no harm in the funds being used to feed the poor in another country.
④ If this is not possible, then the alternative is fasting three days.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
Question:
If someone wishes to give the kafārah (expiation) for breaking an oath in the form of money, but cannot find any needy person nearby (e.g. while living in France), is it permissible to send the amount to a trustworthy organization that feeds the poor in another country?
Answer by:
◈ Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh
◈ Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Kafārah Must Reach the Needy
According to both scholars:
✔ The primary objective of kafārah is to benefit the poor and needy — either by feeding them or clothing them, as prescribed in the Qur'an.
Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh says:“It is not possible that in any society, every person is wealthy. The poor and needy exist in every region.”
Shaykh Khidr Hayat ḥafiẓahullāh adds:“If no poor person is available nearby, a person can appoint someone as a wakīl (representative) to deliver the kafārah on his behalf to deserving recipients.”
❖ Giving to an Organization is Permissible
✔ Sending your kafārah amount to a reliable charitable organization that feeds the poor in another country is permissible.
This falls under the Islamic concept of wakālah (representation).
Many organizations already specialize in distributing:- Zakat
- Sadaqah
- Kafārah
- Fidyah
So long as the organization is trustworthy and delivers the food to genuinely needy individuals, it is acceptable.
❖ Alternative Option: Fasting
If one truly cannot feed ten needy people or appoint someone else to do so, then the Qur'an allows:
➡ Fasting for three consecutive days as a valid form of expiation.
Summary:
① Kafārah must be given to the needy.
② It can be fulfilled through a trustworthy organization (as a wakīl).
③ There’s no harm in the funds being used to feed the poor in another country.
④ If this is not possible, then the alternative is fasting three days.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
