Vain talk in oaths
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Question:
I often repeat the word (Wallah) while I am speaking. Is this considered an oath? And how do I expiate it if I break it?
Answer:
If a Muslim male or female who is of age repeats the word (Wallah) regarding doing something or leaving something off, with intention and commitment; for example, if he says, "Wallah, I will not visit so-and-so," or says, "Wallah, I will visit so-and-so," twice or more, or says, "Wallah, I will surely visit so-and-so," or the like, then if he breaks it by not doing what he swore to do, or by doing what he swore to leave off, he owes an oath expiation. It is: feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. The obligatory amount for feeding is half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of the staple food of the country, such as dates, rice, or otherwise, which is approximately one and a half kilograms.
The clothing is: what is sufficient for prayer; such as a shirt, or an izar (lower garment) and a rida' (upper garment).
If he is unable to do any one of these three, he must fast for three days; because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Ma'idah 5:89] the verse [al-Ma'idah: 89].
As for if the oath slips off his tongue without intention or commitment, it is considered void, and he owes no expiation for it, because of this noble verse, which is His saying the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:225].
And one expiation suffices him for repeated oaths only if they are on a single action—as we mentioned earlier.
As for if they are on actions, he must pay an expiation for every oath; for example, if he says, "Wallah, I will surely visit so-and-so," "Wallah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "Wallah, I will surely strike so-and-so," or the like. Then if he breaks one of these oaths or the like, he must pay its expiation. If he breaks them all, he must pay an expiation for every oath. And Allah is the One who grants success.
I often repeat the word (Wallah) while I am speaking. Is this considered an oath? And how do I expiate it if I break it?
Answer:
If a Muslim male or female who is of age repeats the word (Wallah) regarding doing something or leaving something off, with intention and commitment; for example, if he says, "Wallah, I will not visit so-and-so," or says, "Wallah, I will visit so-and-so," twice or more, or says, "Wallah, I will surely visit so-and-so," or the like, then if he breaks it by not doing what he swore to do, or by doing what he swore to leave off, he owes an oath expiation. It is: feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. The obligatory amount for feeding is half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of the staple food of the country, such as dates, rice, or otherwise, which is approximately one and a half kilograms.
The clothing is: what is sufficient for prayer; such as a shirt, or an izar (lower garment) and a rida' (upper garment).
If he is unable to do any one of these three, he must fast for three days; because of 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
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 أَيْمَانَكُمْAs for if the oath slips off his tongue without intention or commitment, it is considered void, and he owes no expiation for it, because of this noble verse, which is His saying the Exalted:
Allah does not impose blame upon you for what is unintentional in your oaths
لاَ يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْAnd one expiation suffices him for repeated oaths only if they are on a single action—as we mentioned earlier.
As for if they are on actions, he must pay an expiation for every oath; for example, if he says, "Wallah, I will surely visit so-and-so," "Wallah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "Wallah, I will surely strike so-and-so," or the like. Then if he breaks one of these oaths or the like, he must pay its expiation. If he breaks them all, he must pay an expiation for every oath. And Allah is the One who grants success.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.