An Oath to Marry Someone, and No One Else

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: I made an oath to a person that I’d marry them and only them. They ended up getting engaged to someone else, and now I’m left to following out my oath for the rest of my life. What do I do if I want to get married again without going against my oath, if possible?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health and faith.

Simply break the oath and perform expiation, and then marry whomever you wish.

Our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said, “Whoever swears an oath and then finds a situation of more taqwa than it, let him do that which entails more taqwa.” [Sahih Muslim]

Your marriage to another woman will inshaAllah be a situation of more taqwa, since marriage is half your religion, and you surely cannot marry the woman of your oath.

Expiation is to to feed ten poor persons (2 meals each), or to clothe them (1 garment each), or to give them the equivalent monetary value. If you are unable to do that, you must fast three consecutive days. [Maydani/Quduri, Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani