Is it permissible to pay the expiation for an oath in cash?
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Question:
What is the ruling on paying the expiation for an oath in cash? And what is its value?
Answer:
It is not permissible to pay it in cash. This is the position of the majority of scholars, and it is the correct one. Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He), says in His great Book:[Al-Ma'idah 5:89], then He said: meaning: the oath [Al-Ma'idah 5:89], then He said after that, (Glorified and Exalted is He): [Al-Ma'idah: 89]. So its expiation is as Allah said: feeding ten poor people from the middle of what you feed your families, or clothing them, or freeing a slave, meaning: manumission. As if you provide them with breakfast or dinner from your food, from the middle of what you feed your family: from dates, or rice. If it is accompanied by a side dish, that is better. Or you provide them with dinner at a restaurant, or in any place, or you provide them with breakfast, or you give them something raw, like rice or dates, half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg): one and a half kilograms for each person. Or you clothe them with a garment, either a lower garment and an upper garment, or just a shirt, that is the clothing. Or you free a believing slave, male or female. If you are unable to do so, you fast three days only. If you are unable to do all of this, you fast. As for money, no.
What is the ruling on paying the expiation for an oath in cash? And what is its value?
Answer:
It is not permissible to pay it in cash. This is the position of the majority of scholars, and it is the correct one. Allah, (Exalted and Majestic is He), says in His great Book:
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
لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمُ الْأَيْمَانَSo its expiation is
فَكَفَّارَتُهُthe 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
إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍThat is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths.
ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.