If Someone Cannot Fulfill an Oath Due to an Excuse
By: Imran Ayyub Lahori
If a person cannot fulfill his oath due to a genuine excuse, there is no sin upon him.
This is proven by the ḥadīth of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه) in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī.
[Al-Bukhārī: 7046 – Kitāb al-Taʿbīr: Bāb man lam yara al-ruʾyā li-awwal ʿābir idhā lam yuṣib]
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ﴾ [Al-Māʾidah: 89]
“Its expiation is to feed ten needy people with the average of what you feed your own families, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. But whoever cannot afford this should fast for three days.”
The correct approach is to act upon the verse with moderation and without unnecessary restriction or specification beyond what the Qur’an mentions.
Summary:
If you are unable to fulfill your oath due to a valid excuse:
By: Imran Ayyub Lahori
1. No Sin if Prevented by a Valid Excuse
If a person cannot fulfill his oath due to a genuine excuse, there is no sin upon him.
This is proven by the ḥadīth of Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr (رضي الله عنه) in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī.
[Al-Bukhārī: 7046 – Kitāb al-Taʿbīr: Bāb man lam yara al-ruʾyā li-awwal ʿābir idhā lam yuṣib]
2. Qur’anic Instruction on Oath Expiation (Kaffārah)
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ ۖ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ﴾ [Al-Māʾidah: 89]
“Its expiation is to feed ten needy people with the average of what you feed your own families, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. But whoever cannot afford this should fast for three days.”
3. Scholarly Discussion
- There is a difference of opinion about the particle "أو" in the verse — whether it indicates choice (takhyīr) or sequence (taqsīm).
- Scholars also differed on the quantity and quality of food and clothing to be given.
4. Stronger Opinion (Rājiḥ)
The correct approach is to act upon the verse with moderation and without unnecessary restriction or specification beyond what the Qur’an mentions.
- Kaffārah items should be given as stated in the verse — food, clothing, or freeing a slave — and not replaced with their monetary value.
- This is the view of Imām Mālik, Imām Aḥmad, and Imām al-Shāfiʿī.
[Al-Mughnī 11/265]
Summary:If you are unable to fulfill your oath due to a valid excuse:
- No sin upon you.
- Pay the kaffārah mentioned in Al-Māʾidah: 89 — feed ten poor, clothe them, or free a slave; if unable, fast three days.
- Give the actual items, not their cash equivalent.
