Oath not to commit a sin, then intending to do it but not doing so
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Fatwa number ( 2391 )
Q: A - Several years ago, when I was 17 years old, I was herding camels. I lost a she-camel and said: "By Allah, O Lord, if You cause my she-camel to return to me and I find her, I will not commit unlawful sexual intercourse for the rest of my life." After a while, I found the she-camel by the will of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). However, after a period, Satan and the desires of the self took control of me,
and I began searching for a woman who would agree to unlawful sexual intercourse with me so that I could commit it with her. But Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) did not facilitate that, despite my efforts to obtain it. The matter remained only at the level of intention without the actual commission of unlawful sexual intercourse. Then I regretted it and repented to Allah, and I stopped searching. I am still repentant, and I will continue in my repentance if Allah wills. B - I heard that the expiation for an oath includes feeding ten poor people , and some people said: sixty. What is the correct ruling? How do I gather these people, and how do I know their circumstances that they are poor? Is it a condition to know that they pray, or is it based on their outward appearance? Is it permissible to feed a number of animals and birds as poor people?
A: First: If the situation is as you described regarding the oath, and you did not commit the sin you swore to abstain from, which is unlawful sexual intercourse, and only the intention, resolve, and effort to obtain it occurred from you - then there is no expiation for an oath upon you. Second: The expiation for an oath is feeding ten poor people from the middle of what you feed your family, or giving them five sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of wheat, dates, rice, or the like of what you feed your family, with each of the ten poor people receiving half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg), or clothing ten poor people, or freeing a believing slave. If you cannot do so,
then fast for three days, and it is better if they are consecutive; due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:89] the verse. And strive to know the poor people by their circumstances and outward appearances, and cooperate with those around you, such as relatives, friends, and neighbors, in identifying them. It is necessary that they be among those who perform the five daily prayers at their times, and it is not sufficient for you to feed the expiation to animals or birds. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: A - Several years ago, when I was 17 years old, I was herding camels. I lost a she-camel and said: "By Allah, O Lord, if You cause my she-camel to return to me and I find her, I will not commit unlawful sexual intercourse for the rest of my life." After a while, I found the she-camel by the will of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). However, after a period, Satan and the desires of the self took control of me,
and I began searching for a woman who would agree to unlawful sexual intercourse with me so that I could commit it with her. But Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) did not facilitate that, despite my efforts to obtain it. The matter remained only at the level of intention without the actual commission of unlawful sexual intercourse. Then I regretted it and repented to Allah, and I stopped searching. I am still repentant, and I will continue in my repentance if Allah wills. B - I heard that the expiation for an oath includes feeding ten poor people , and some people said: sixty. What is the correct ruling? How do I gather these people, and how do I know their circumstances that they are poor? Is it a condition to know that they pray, or is it based on their outward appearance? Is it permissible to feed a number of animals and birds as poor people?
A: First: If the situation is as you described regarding the oath, and you did not commit the sin you swore to abstain from, which is unlawful sexual intercourse, and only the intention, resolve, and effort to obtain it occurred from you - then there is no expiation for an oath upon you. Second: The expiation for an oath is feeding ten poor people from the middle of what you feed your family, or giving them five sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of wheat, dates, rice, or the like of what you feed your family, with each of the ten poor people receiving half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg), or clothing ten poor people, or freeing a believing slave. If you cannot do so,
then fast for three days, and it is better if they are consecutive; due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.
لاَ يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمُ الأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.