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Kaffarah for reversing an oath

Fatwaa ID: 709

Question:

Assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

If one makes an oath saying that he will not go to a person’s house and then changes his mind, how does he revert this?

Does he have to pay kaffara?

Jazakumullahu Khairan

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

Taking an oath is not a simple issue. An oath should not be taken except in issues of great importance. When one does take the oath, then he must be cognizant and honor the name of Allaah Ta’aala and therefore uphold the oath. Once an oath is taken, there is no retraction or reversing. If one changes his mind and acts contrary to the oath, then kaffaarah will have to be fulfilled.

The kaffaarah for breaking an oath is to feed ten people two average meals or clothe ten people sufficient clothes to adequately cover their body. If one is genuinely unable to do either of the above due to not having the financial means, then he must fast three consecutive days. Along with the above, tawbah and istighfaar must be made.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

07/27/1444 AH – 02/18/2023 CE

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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