Respecting a Fellow Muslim’s Oath and Its Sharʿi Expiation

Respecting a Muslim’s Oath and Its Expiation
By: Imran Ayyub Lahori

1. Fulfilling a Fellow Muslim’s Oath​

It is the right of a Muslim over another Muslim that if he places him under an oath, he should fulfill it — unless it involves sin. Breaking such an oath requires the kaffārah (expiation) that Allah ﷻ has mentioned in His Noble Book.

Evidence from Ḥadīth​

① Ḥaḍrat al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib (رضي الله عنه) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us with seven things, one of which was:
"وَإِبْرَارُ الْمُقْسِمِ"
"To fulfill the oath of the one who places you under oath."
[Al-Bukhārī: 5863 – Kitāb al-Libās; Al-Tirmidhī: 2809; Al-Nasāʾī: 1939]


② Ḥaḍrat ʿĀʾishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated:
A woman gave her dates as a gift. The Prophet ﷺ ate some of them and left some. The woman said: “I put you under oath to eat the rest.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"أَبْرِيهَا، فَإِنَّ الْإِثْمَ عَلَى الْمُحِنِتِ"
"Fulfill her request, for the sin is upon the one who imposes the oath."
[Aḥmad: 6/114]

2. Kaffārah for Breaking an Oath​

The expiation is as mentioned in the Qur’an [Al-Māʾidah: 89]:

• Feed ten needy people from the average of what you feed your families, or
• Clothe them, or
• Free a slave.
  If unable to do so, fast three days.

Summary:

• It is recommended to fulfill another Muslim’s oath, provided it does not involve sin.
• If one breaks his oath, he must offer the kaffārah prescribed in the Qur’an.