The Ruling on Frequent Oaths Regarding Children and the Expiation for an Oath

The questioner : The questioner says: In her second question, the woman says that she frequently swears oaths regarding her children, saying that they do not do such and such, and that these children do do it. What do you advise one who makes many oaths and swears frequently?

The Shaykh : We advise all our brothers not to swear frequently. For Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, said, "And keep your oaths to Allah." The scholars said among the interpretations of this verse: do not swear frequently. However, swearing regarding women without intent is a vain oath, and there is no harm in it, as Allah the Exalted said: And what is merely a slip of the tongue without intent is forgiven and excused. This is what comes from the tongue of a mother or a father when speaking about their children. You find a man saying to his son, "By Allah, if you do such and such, I will do such and such to you," and he is not going to do it and did not intend to make an oath. Likewise, a mother says to her daughter, "By Allah, if you do not do such and such, I will do such and such to you," and she is not going to do it, but it just came out of her mouth without intent.

The questioner : And if you are serious, well, and then what do I do, meaning this thing?

The Shaykh : Yes. This is excused, and praise be to Allah.

The questioner : What is wrong with you, are you serious?

The Shaykh : Yes, she says: O Shaykh, if the woman is serious in her oath.

The questioner : If she is serious in her oath.

The Shaykh : And her breaking of the oath she swore by saying, “By Allah, if you do such-and-such,” and she did not do it, then she owes an expiation for the oath. This is feeding ten poor people, each poor person receiving one kilogram . Whoever does not find the money to feed them or clothe them, or does not find poor people, must fast for three consecutive days.