The ruling on one who vows not to disobey Allah and then disobeys Him

Question : A person says he pledged with Allah not to disobey Him, but then he committed a sin. He knew that he owed an oath expiation, so he fasted for three days. However, after the expiation, he continued in his sin. After a while, he committed it again, and he took his second round, an expiation for the sin that occurred after that.

Answer : This man swore not to commit a sin. In fact, the correct term is that he vowed not to commit a sin, because he pledged with Allah, and a pledge is a vow, not an oath. However, its ruling is the ruling of an oath in this case. So when he returned to the sin, he said that he expiated it by fasting for three days. This expiation does not suffice for him, because fasting for three days is not sufficient except for one who does not find the means to feed ten poor people or clothe them. As for one who does find that, if he fasted for three years, it would not benefit him. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: . So Allah Blessed and Exalted is He made the fasting of the three days for one who does not find the means to feed or clothe ten poor people. It appears, and Allah knows best, that His saying "but whoever does not find" includes one who does not find their food and clothing, and one who does not find them. Just as if you were in a wealthy community and you sought a poor person and did not find one, we would say: fast for three days. For this reason, Allah Blessed and Exalted is He omitted the object in His saying "but whoever does not find," so that it would be general for one who does not find the feeding or the poor people. The important point is that we say to the brother questioner: it is obligatory for you to expiate this pledge you made with Allah by feeding ten poor people or clothing them. But how do you feed them? We tell you to feed them in one of two ways: either you prepare a lunch and feed them lunch, or you prepare a dinner and feed them dinner, or you distribute food to them, such as rice, amounting to two sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg). Two sa' means one and a quarter sa' by the sa' of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), because the sa' of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is four mudd (a quarter of a sa'), so it is for four poor people. One and a quarter sa' is for five, and one and a quarter sa' is for five, the total being two and a half sa' by the sa' of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).