❀ Islamic Guidance for a Husband Who Breaks an Oath and Persists in Smoking ❀
Source:
This article is derived from the book “500 Questions and Answers for Women” based on the fatwas of the scholars of the Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
My husband is a habitual smoker, and he suffers from respiratory issues because of it. His unwillingness to quit has caused many problems in our married life.
Five months ago, he offered two units of voluntary prayer (nafl) and swore an oath that he would never smoke again. But only a week later, he resumed smoking. This led to further distress, and I eventually demanded divorce. He then promised once more to quit smoking permanently. However, I no longer have any trust in him.
What is your correct opinion on this matter?
What is the expiation (kaffarah) for breaking his oath?
What advice would you offer me?
Jazakum Allahu Khayran
Smoking is categorically ḥarām (prohibited) and belongs to the category of impure and harmful substances (الخبائث). It has numerous harms.
Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ﴾
[Surah Al-Ma’idah: 4]
"They ask you what has been made lawful for them. Say: Lawful for you are all good things (ṭayyibāt).”
And in describing the characteristics of the Prophet ﷺ, Allah says:
﴿وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ﴾
[Surah Al-A‘rāf: 157]
"He makes lawful for them what is pure and prohibits for them what is impure (khabā’ith).”
There is no doubt that cigarettes fall under the category of impure (khabīth) substances, and therefore, it is obligatory upon your husband to quit smoking.
He must abandon this harmful act for the sake of:
✔ Obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
✔ Avoiding Allah’s displeasure
✔ Protecting his faith, health, and domestic harmony
Since he swore an oath and then broke it, he is now obligated to offer expiation (kaffārah) for his broken oath. Alongside this, he must:
✔ Repent sincerely to Allah
✔ Make a firm resolve not to return to the sin again
He must do one of the following:
① Feed ten needy people,
– Either one meal (breakfast or dinner) per person
– Or give each of them half a sāʿ (approx. 1.5 kg) of standard local food
② Clothe ten needy people
③ Free a slave (if applicable in a context where slavery exists)
If none of these options are possible, only then is he allowed to fast for three consecutive days.
We advise you with the following:
If your husband performs his prayers, has generally good character, and genuinely quits smoking, then you should not insist on divorce.
However, if he persists in this sinful behavior, and it continues to negatively affect your life, there is no harm in requesting divorce.
We pray to Allah ﷻ to guide him, accept his repentance, and help him remain steadfast in abandoning this harmful habit.
(By: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
Source:
This article is derived 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:
My husband is a habitual smoker, and he suffers from respiratory issues because of it. His unwillingness to quit has caused many problems in our married life.
Five months ago, he offered two units of voluntary prayer (nafl) and swore an oath that he would never smoke again. But only a week later, he resumed smoking. This led to further distress, and I eventually demanded divorce. He then promised once more to quit smoking permanently. However, I no longer have any trust in him.
What is your correct opinion on this matter?
What is the expiation (kaffarah) for breaking his oath?
What advice would you offer me?
Jazakum Allahu Khayran
❖ Answer:
Smoking is categorically ḥarām (prohibited) and belongs to the category of impure and harmful substances (الخبائث). It has numerous harms.
Allah says in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ﴾
[Surah Al-Ma’idah: 4]
"They ask you what has been made lawful for them. Say: Lawful for you are all good things (ṭayyibāt).”
And in describing the characteristics of the Prophet ﷺ, Allah says:
﴿وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَائِثَ﴾
[Surah Al-A‘rāf: 157]
"He makes lawful for them what is pure and prohibits for them what is impure (khabā’ith).”
There is no doubt that cigarettes fall under the category of impure (khabīth) substances, and therefore, it is obligatory upon your husband to quit smoking.
He must abandon this harmful act for the sake of:
✔ Obedience to Allah and His Messenger ﷺ
✔ Avoiding Allah’s displeasure
✔ Protecting his faith, health, and domestic harmony
❖ Ruling on Breaking the Oath:
Since he swore an oath and then broke it, he is now obligated to offer expiation (kaffārah) for his broken oath. Alongside this, he must:
✔ Repent sincerely to Allah
✔ Make a firm resolve not to return to the sin again
❖ Kaffārah (Expiation) for Breaking an Oath:
He must do one of the following:
① Feed ten needy people,
– Either one meal (breakfast or dinner) per person
– Or give each of them half a sāʿ (approx. 1.5 kg) of standard local food
② Clothe ten needy people
③ Free a slave (if applicable in a context where slavery exists)
If none of these options are possible, only then is he allowed to fast for three consecutive days.
❖ Final Advice:
We advise you with the following:
If your husband performs his prayers, has generally good character, and genuinely quits smoking, then you should not insist on divorce. However, if he persists in this sinful behavior, and it continues to negatively affect your life, there is no harm in requesting divorce.We pray to Allah ﷻ to guide him, accept his repentance, and help him remain steadfast in abandoning this harmful habit.
(By: Former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Shaykh Ibn Bāz رحمه الله)
