The Criterion for the Expiation of an Oath
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
A man who swears oaths frequently, who cannot control himself and constantly swears about everything, is there a ruling for him when he swears: does he start with the action for which he swore, or does he start with the expiation?
First, regarding one who swears frequently, we must say: Does this come out of his mouth without intention? If it is without intention, then he owes no expiation; because this is from the idle talk of an oath,And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Ma'idah: 89] .
And as for if it is with intention, then we forbid him from this;Because Allah said: [Al-Ma'idah: 89] And some of the exegetes said: its meaning is: do not multiply oaths.
Allah the Exalted indicated the dislike of that in His saying: [Al-Qalam: 10] meaning: one who swears frequently, but he must expiate. If the thing sworn upon is one thing and the oaths are repeated, then he owes one expiation. And if the things sworn upon are multiple and the oaths are multiple, then he owes an expiation for each action. He may act before he expiates, and he may expiate before he acts. If he expiates before he acts, this expiation is called a release. And if he acts then expiates, it is an expiation.
First, regarding one who swears frequently, we must say: Does this come out of his mouth without intention? If it is without intention, then he owes no expiation; because this is from the idle talk of an oath,And Allah the Exalted said:
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
لا يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمْ الأَيْمَانَAnd as for if it is with intention, then we forbid him from this;Because Allah said:
And keep your oaths
وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْAllah the Exalted indicated the dislike of that in His saying:
