Expiation for Oaths

**1. The Expiation:** Allah has legislated the expiation of oaths for His servants, by which they can dissolve their oaths and exit from them, as a mercy to them. **Evidence:** - Allah says: "Allah has ordained for you the dissolution of your oaths" [At-Tahrim: 2] - The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever swears an oath then sees something better than it, let him do what is better and expiate for his oath" [Muslim] The expiation involves **choice and sequence**: **Options (choose one):** 1. Feed 10 poor people - half a ṣā' of food each 2. Clothe 10 poor people - one garment sufficient for prayer each 3. Free a believing slave, sound from defects **If unable to do any of the above:** Fast 3 days **Evidence:** Allah says: "Allah will not call you to account for thoughtless oaths, but He will call you to account for oaths you have sworn intentionally. **Its expiation is feeding ten needy people from the average of what you feed your families, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. Whoever cannot find [these] - then fasting for three days**" [Al-Ma'idah: 89]. Thus oath expiation combines **choice** (between feeding, clothing, freeing) and **sequence** (between these three and fasting). --- **2. Conditions for Expiation:** Expiation is not obligatory for a broken oath except with three conditions: **Condition 1:** The oath must be **binding (mun'aqidah)** - the swearer must intend it for a future matter. An oath is only binding by Allah, His names, or His attributes. If the oath slipped from the tongue without intention, it is not binding and no expiation is due. **Condition 2:** The swearer must be **choosing freely**. One who swears under compulsion has no binding oath and no expiation. **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "Lifted from my Ummah are [accountability for] mistake, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do." **Condition 3:** The person must **break his oath** - doing what he swore not to do, or not doing what he swore to do - **while remembering** his oath and **choosing freely**. If he breaks it forgetfully or under compulsion, no expiation is due. --- **3. Exception with "Insha'Allah":** Whoever swears and says "Insha'Allah" (if Allah wills) in his oath, there is no breaking and no expiation if he doesn't fulfill it. **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever swears and says 'Insha'Allah' has not broken [his oath]" [Tirmidhi - authentic]. --- **4. Breaking Oaths - Situations:** The default is that the swearer fulfills his oath, but he may break it for benefit or necessity, with expiation as mentioned. Breaking oaths is categorized as follows: **A. Obligatory to Break:** If he swore to abandon an obligation (like not maintaining family ties) or to do something forbidden (like drinking alcohol) - he **must** break his oath and expiate. **B. Forbidden to Break:** If he swore to do an obligation or avoid a prohibition - he must fulfill it; his oath reinforces what Allah commanded. **C. Permissible to Break:** If he swore regarding permissible matters (doing or leaving a mubah act).