He also says: In my youth, we used to swear oaths, and some of these oaths were not fulfilled. There are many of them, and I cannot count them. I have repented from that. Is repentance sufficient, or not?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. In his second question, he says: In my youth, we used to swear oaths, and some of these oaths were not fulfilled. There are many of them, and I cannot count them. I have repented from that. Is repentance sufficient, or not? If repentance is not sufficient, is it permissible for me to prepare food and distribute it to the pilgrims of the House of Allah, since I reside in the Prophet’s city, and I do not know the number of those oaths?
The Shaykh : If these oaths were before reaching puberty, he owes nothing if he broke them, because one of the conditions for legal accountability is reaching puberty. If it was after he reached puberty, and he was accustomed to saying "if Allah wills" when swearing, then he also owes nothing, by interpreting the oath according to his custom. Likewise, if he is certain that he said "if Allah wills," he owes nothing.
As for if he is not certain, and it is not his custom to say "if Allah wills," he owes an expiation for every oath. If it is difficult for him, he should only expiate for what he is certain of.
But let him know that if the matter sworn upon is one single thing, there is only one expiation, even if the oaths are multiple. For example: A man says, "By Allah, I will not visit so-and-so." This is one oath. Then some people say to him: "Why do you not visit so-and-so? So-and-so is good, so-and-so is your friend, so-and-so is your relative, visit him." He says: "By Allah, I will not visit him." This is a second oath. Then it is said to him again, and he says: "By Allah, I will not visit him." This is a third oath. These three oaths are sufficient with one expiation because the matter sworn upon is one single thing.
Likewise, if he swears one oath regarding multiple things, saying: "By Allah, I will not visit so-and-so, I will not wear this garment, and I will not speak to so-and-so." The oath is one, so he owes one expiation.
As for if the matters sworn upon are multiple and the oaths are multiple, he owes an expiation for each one. But if he doubts whether they are three or four, he is only obligated to expiate for three.
The Shaykh : If these oaths were before reaching puberty, he owes nothing if he broke them, because one of the conditions for legal accountability is reaching puberty. If it was after he reached puberty, and he was accustomed to saying "if Allah wills" when swearing, then he also owes nothing, by interpreting the oath according to his custom. Likewise, if he is certain that he said "if Allah wills," he owes nothing.
As for if he is not certain, and it is not his custom to say "if Allah wills," he owes an expiation for every oath. If it is difficult for him, he should only expiate for what he is certain of.
But let him know that if the matter sworn upon is one single thing, there is only one expiation, even if the oaths are multiple. For example: A man says, "By Allah, I will not visit so-and-so." This is one oath. Then some people say to him: "Why do you not visit so-and-so? So-and-so is good, so-and-so is your friend, so-and-so is your relative, visit him." He says: "By Allah, I will not visit him." This is a second oath. Then it is said to him again, and he says: "By Allah, I will not visit him." This is a third oath. These three oaths are sufficient with one expiation because the matter sworn upon is one single thing.
Likewise, if he swears one oath regarding multiple things, saying: "By Allah, I will not visit so-and-so, I will not wear this garment, and I will not speak to so-and-so." The oath is one, so he owes one expiation.
As for if the matters sworn upon are multiple and the oaths are multiple, he owes an expiation for each one. But if he doubts whether they are three or four, he is only obligated to expiate for three.