Explanation of the Expiation for Oaths

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Question:
Many people make mistakes in explaining the expiation for oaths. Could you please clarify the correct expiation? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The expiation for an oath has been clarified by Allah the Exalted in the Qur'an. 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. 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 اللّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُواْ أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

[Al-Ma'idah: 89]. This is the text of the Qur'an, so the expiation for an oath is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. One has the choice among these: if he wishes, he feeds ten poor people; if he wishes, he clothes them; and if he wishes, he frees a slave—if freeing a slave is feasible.
Feeding consists of half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) for each person, or providing them with a dinner or a breakfast. Clothing consists of an undergarment and an outer garment, or a shirt. Whoever is unable to do all of this must fast for three days.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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