How Can I Make Up for Broken Oaths in Hanafi Fiqh?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I have broken many oaths in the past, including swearing not to repeat sins, but I failed to uphold them. Now, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and want to make up for these oaths. Since I can’t remember how many were broken, and I cannot feed people, can I fast instead, according to the Hanafi fiqh?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
If you perform one expiation, it will fulfill all oaths. So, in your case, if you cannot feed or clothe ten adults, observe the three fasts, and this will suffice for you.
Generally, if there are many oaths, an expiation must be made for each; however, my liege lord and father narrated from Nur al-Din bin Ghanim al-Maqdisi that when numerous expiations are due, they become one, and the expiation discharges the responsibility for all the oaths. This is the opinion of Imam Muhammad and the position adopted by the author of Al-Asl.
[’Ala’uddin ‘Ibn ’Abidin, Al-Hadiyya al-’Ala’iyya]
In the Hanafi school, one expiation is enough to expiate several broken oaths. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
Expiation for a Broken Oath
The expiation for a broken oath is:
– to free a slave (no relevance in our times now) or
– to feed ten adult poor people two meals a day for ten days or
– clothe ten adult poor people with an average-quality garment which will cover most of their body.
If these are not possible, then
– one must fast three days in a row.
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.
– Oaths Archives
– What Is the Expiation (Kaffara) of Breaking an Oath?
I pray this helps answer your question.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.
