A woman swore an oath and wants to expiate this oath by fasting three days; is it permissible for her to fast them together with the six days of Shawwal so that her fasting totals six days?
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The questioner : The questioner mentions that she is a woman who swore an oath and wants to expiate this oath by fasting three days; is it permissible, she asks, to fast them together with the six days of Shawwal so that her fasting totals six days?
The Shaykh : First, it is not permissible for one who has sworn an oath, if he breaks it, to fast unless he is unable to feed ten poor people, clothe them, or free a slave. This is because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:89] It has become widespread among many of the common people that the expiation for an oath, if the one who swore breaks it, is fasting three days, whether he is able to feed, clothe, or free, or not. This is an error. Rather, fasting is not permissible unless the one who broke the oath is unable to feed ten poor people, or he is able but cannot find poor people. In that case, he fasts three consecutive days.
Then, if the three days fall within the period of the six days of Shawwal, it does not suffice to intend with them the fasting of the six days of Shawwal, because they are two independent acts of worship, and one does not suffice in place of the other. Rather, he fasts the six days of Shawwal, and then fasts the three days in addition to the fasting of the six days. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : First, it is not permissible for one who has sworn an oath, if he breaks it, to fast unless he is unable to feed ten poor people, clothe them, or free a slave. This is because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
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
فَكَفّارَتُهُ إِطعامُ عَشَرَةِ مَساكينَ مِن أَوسَطِ ما تُطعِمونَ أَهليكُم أَو كِسوَتُهُم أَو تَحريرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَم يَجِد فَصِيامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيّامٍ ذلِكَ كَفّارَةُ أَيمانِكُم إِذا حَلَفتُمThen, if the three days fall within the period of the six days of Shawwal, it does not suffice to intend with them the fasting of the six days of Shawwal, because they are two independent acts of worship, and one does not suffice in place of the other. Rather, he fasts the six days of Shawwal, and then fasts the three days in addition to the fasting of the six days. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.