The ruling on one who swears multiple consecutive oaths to abstain from something and then does it
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Question:
This is a letter we received from the questioner (M. A.) from Khamis Mushait. He says in his letter: I swore an oath following another oath—so he wrote it—to the effect that I would not smoke again, but I was unable to fight that habit, and I returned to smoking. Is this oath equivalent to a divorce, or is it an oath by Allah?
Answer:
If you swore by Allah many times that you would not return to smoking, that you would not go back to smoking, as if you said, “By Allah, I do not smoke,” “By Allah, I do not smoke,” “By Allah, I will not return to it,” whether five times, ten times, or a hundred times, and then you returned to it, you must repent to Allah, and you owe only one expiation for an oath; because it was for one single thing. You owe the expiation for an oath, which is feeding ten poor people, giving each one half a sa’ of dates or other staple food of the country, or clothing them, or freeing a slave if that is easy for you. If you are unable to do that, you fast for three days.
You must also repent to Allah from smoking, and be serious and active in fighting it, with patience and perseverance, and keep the company of good people who do not smoke. If you do this, Allah will help you (Glorified and Exalted is He). But do not keep the company of those who smoke, for if you keep their company, you will return to it. So you must fight that habit and leave the company of those who smoke so that you do not return to it, for it is vile, harmful, and forbidden.
So it is obligatory to leave it and beware of it. It is not permissible to sell it, buy it, or trade in it, neither in grocery stores nor elsewhere. Rather, it must be left and fought against because of its great harm and vileness. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: [Surah al-Ma'idah: 4].
So Allah has not made lawful for us except what is pure, and this is not among the pure things; rather, it is among the vile things that are forbidden. And He (Mighty and Majestic) said: [Surah al-A'raf: 157]. Thus, Allah sent the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to make lawful the pure things and forbid the vile things.
So smoking is among the vile, reprehensible things that are harmful to the human body and health, and it causes many serious and dangerous diseases. Likewise, all other intoxicants and narcotics are of great harm and must be fought against—may Allah guide the Muslims and grant them safety from them.
The presenter: May Allah reward you. He also asks and says: A quarrel arose between me and a person close to me, and I swore that I would not drink or eat in his house. I returned and consumed what I liked of food and drink. What is the penalty for that oath?
The Shaykh: He owes the expiation for an oath. He owes the expiation for an oath, which is: feeding ten poor people, as mentioned before, giving each poor person half a sa’ of dates, rice, or other staple food of the country, or freeing a believing slave, or clothing the ten poor people, giving each one a shirt, which is sufficient. If you are unable and cannot do that, you must fast for three days. May Allah grant success and guidance.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
This is a letter we received from the questioner (M. A.) from Khamis Mushait. He says in his letter: I swore an oath following another oath—so he wrote it—to the effect that I would not smoke again, but I was unable to fight that habit, and I returned to smoking. Is this oath equivalent to a divorce, or is it an oath by Allah?
Answer:
If you swore by Allah many times that you would not return to smoking, that you would not go back to smoking, as if you said, “By Allah, I do not smoke,” “By Allah, I do not smoke,” “By Allah, I will not return to it,” whether five times, ten times, or a hundred times, and then you returned to it, you must repent to Allah, and you owe only one expiation for an oath; because it was for one single thing. You owe the expiation for an oath, which is feeding ten poor people, giving each one half a sa’ of dates or other staple food of the country, or clothing them, or freeing a slave if that is easy for you. If you are unable to do that, you fast for three days.
You must also repent to Allah from smoking, and be serious and active in fighting it, with patience and perseverance, and keep the company of good people who do not smoke. If you do this, Allah will help you (Glorified and Exalted is He). But do not keep the company of those who smoke, for if you keep their company, you will return to it. So you must fight that habit and leave the company of those who smoke so that you do not return to it, for it is vile, harmful, and forbidden.
So it is obligatory to leave it and beware of it. It is not permissible to sell it, buy it, or trade in it, neither in grocery stores nor elsewhere. Rather, it must be left and fought against because of its great harm and vileness. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says:
They ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, "Lawful for you are [all] good foods
يَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا أُحِلَّ لَهُمْ قُلْ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُSo Allah has not made lawful for us except what is pure, and this is not among the pure things; rather, it is among the vile things that are forbidden. And He (Mighty and Majestic) said:
makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil
وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَآئِثَSo smoking is among the vile, reprehensible things that are harmful to the human body and health, and it causes many serious and dangerous diseases. Likewise, all other intoxicants and narcotics are of great harm and must be fought against—may Allah guide the Muslims and grant them safety from them.
The presenter: May Allah reward you. He also asks and says: A quarrel arose between me and a person close to me, and I swore that I would not drink or eat in his house. I returned and consumed what I liked of food and drink. What is the penalty for that oath?
The Shaykh: He owes the expiation for an oath. He owes the expiation for an oath, which is: feeding ten poor people, as mentioned before, giving each poor person half a sa’ of dates, rice, or other staple food of the country, or freeing a believing slave, or clothing the ten poor people, giving each one a shirt, which is sufficient. If you are unable and cannot do that, you must fast for three days. May Allah grant success and guidance.
The presenter: May Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.