The Ruling on the Expiation for Repeated Oaths Taken on a Single Matter
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Question:
The questioner (S. A.) from Dammam asks: What is the ruling for one who swears by Allah on a single matter four times or more? Does he have to fast three days for each oath, or three days for all of them?
Given that the matter in question is one single thing, not separate things.
Answer:
If the matter sworn upon is one, the expiation is one. That is, if he says, "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," many times, the expiation is one if he speaks to him. The expiation is one. Or if he says, "By Allah, I will not eat this food," "By Allah, I will not eat this food," "By Allah, I will not eat this food," and he intends to do so and swears, then Allah guides him and he eats, he expiates for one oath. He expiates for one; because it is a single act.
As for if he says, "By Allah, I will not eat this food," "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "By Allah, I will not travel," there is an expiation for each oath; because they are multiple acts. "By Allah, I will not travel," if he travels, he has an expiation. "By Allah, I will not eat," if he eats, he has an expiation. "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," if he speaks to him, he has an expiation; because they are different. Do we understand? Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz. Do some people frequently swear oaths in all their affairs?
The Shaykh: It is not permissible. It is not permissible. The Muslim should preserve his oath. Allah says: [Al-Ma'idah: 89]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Abi Dawud 4087Sahih (Al-Albani) "A white-haired man" meaning: an old man with white hair "who is poor and arrogant" meaning: he swears frequently. So it is obligatory to be cautious of that; because our Lord says: [Al-Ma'idah: 89]. And because if he swears frequently, this is a means to becoming lax with it, and to swearing falsely and lying.
So it is obligatory to be cautious, and not to speak, and not to swear except on something clear, where he knows that he is truthful in it, or he knows that his oath has a benefit. For example, he says, "By Allah, I will not do this thing," and he repeats it. "By Allah, I will not drink intoxicants," "By Allah, I will not drink intoxicants," "By Allah, I will not be undutiful to my parents," he emphasizes it upon himself, there is no harm. "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so, the innovator," and the like of that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
The questioner (S. A.) from Dammam asks: What is the ruling for one who swears by Allah on a single matter four times or more? Does he have to fast three days for each oath, or three days for all of them?
Given that the matter in question is one single thing, not separate things.
Answer:
If the matter sworn upon is one, the expiation is one. That is, if he says, "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," many times, the expiation is one if he speaks to him. The expiation is one. Or if he says, "By Allah, I will not eat this food," "By Allah, I will not eat this food," "By Allah, I will not eat this food," and he intends to do so and swears, then Allah guides him and he eats, he expiates for one oath. He expiates for one; because it is a single act.
As for if he says, "By Allah, I will not eat this food," "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," "By Allah, I will not travel," there is an expiation for each oath; because they are multiple acts. "By Allah, I will not travel," if he travels, he has an expiation. "By Allah, I will not eat," if he eats, he has an expiation. "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so," if he speaks to him, he has an expiation; because they are different. Do we understand? Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O His Eminence Shaykh Abdul Aziz. Do some people frequently swear oaths in all their affairs?
The Shaykh: It is not permissible. It is not permissible. The Muslim should preserve his oath. Allah says:
And keep your oaths
وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْThere are three to whom Allah will not speak and at whom He will not look on the Day of Resurrection, and whom He will not declare pure, and they will have a painful punishment
ثلاث لا يكلمهم الله، ولا ينظر إليهم يوم القيامة، ولا يزكيهم، ولهم عذاب أليم: أشيمط زانيand a poor man who is arrogant
وعائل مستكبرAnd a man who makes his trade, he does not sell except with an oath, and he does not buy except with an oath
ورجل جعل الله بضاعته، لا يبيع إلا بيمينه، ولا يشتري إلا بيمينهAnd keep your oaths
وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْSo it is obligatory to be cautious, and not to speak, and not to swear except on something clear, where he knows that he is truthful in it, or he knows that his oath has a benefit. For example, he says, "By Allah, I will not do this thing," and he repeats it. "By Allah, I will not drink intoxicants," "By Allah, I will not drink intoxicants," "By Allah, I will not be undutiful to my parents," he emphasizes it upon himself, there is no harm. "By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so, the innovator," and the like of that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.