❖ Shar‘i Ruling and Expiation for Frequently Swearing and Breaking Oaths ❖
This writing is excerpted from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women” based on the Fatwas of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
I often say “By Allah” (والله) during conversation. Does this count as a valid oath?
If I break such an oath, how should I offer kaffārah (expiation)?
If a sane and responsible Muslim—man or woman—says "By Allah!" (والله) repeatedly, with deliberate intent to affirm or deny an action, such as:
...and then fails to act accordingly, then this person has broken a valid oath.
As per the Qur’anic command:
﴿فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ...﴾ [Al-Mā’idah: 89]
The kaffārah includes one of the following:
➊ Feeding ten needy persons from the average of what you feed your own family,
– This means ½ ṣāʿ (approximately 1.5 kg) of staple food like rice or dates per person.
➋ Clothing ten needy persons,
– Each must be given enough clothing in which ṣalāh can be validly performed, such as a shirt and lower garment or a cloth to cover the body.
➌ Freeing a slave, if available.
If none of the above is possible:
➍ Fast for three consecutive days.
✔ If a person takes multiple oaths for the same action and then breaks it:
→ Only one kaffārah is required.
✔ But if a person takes oaths regarding different actions, and breaks all of them,
→ Then a separate kaffārah is required for each broken oath.
Example:
If all three oaths are broken, then three separate kaffārāt are due.
والله ولي التوفيق
(Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia – Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
This writing is excerpted from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women” based on the Fatwas of the Scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
❖ Question:
I often say “By Allah” (والله) during conversation. Does this count as a valid oath?
If I break such an oath, how should I offer kaffārah (expiation)?
❖ Answer:
If a sane and responsible Muslim—man or woman—says "By Allah!" (والله) repeatedly, with deliberate intent to affirm or deny an action, such as:
- “By Allah! I will not meet so-and-so,”
- “By Allah! I will meet so-and-so,”
...and then fails to act accordingly, then this person has broken a valid oath.
❖ Expiation (Kaffārah) for Breaking a Valid Oath:
As per the Qur’anic command:
﴿فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ...﴾ [Al-Mā’idah: 89]
The kaffārah includes one of the following:
➊ Feeding ten needy persons from the average of what you feed your own family,
– This means ½ ṣāʿ (approximately 1.5 kg) of staple food like rice or dates per person.
➋ Clothing ten needy persons,
– Each must be given enough clothing in which ṣalāh can be validly performed, such as a shirt and lower garment or a cloth to cover the body.
➌ Freeing a slave, if available.
If none of the above is possible:
➍ Fast for three consecutive days.
❖ Important Clarification:
- If someone says “By Allah!” without deliberate intent, as part of casual speech, it is considered a لغو قسم (idle oath) and no expiation is due.
Proof:
﴿لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّـهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ﴾ [5:89]
❖ Repetition of the Same Oath:
✔ If a person takes multiple oaths for the same action and then breaks it:
→ Only one kaffārah is required.
✔ But if a person takes oaths regarding different actions, and breaks all of them,
→ Then a separate kaffārah is required for each broken oath.
Example:
- “By Allah! I will meet Zayd.”
- “By Allah! I will not talk to ʿAmr.”
- “By Allah! I will hit Bakr.”
If all three oaths are broken, then three separate kaffārāt are due.
والله ولي التوفيق
(Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia – Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
