After Breaking an Oath, Do I Perform an Expiation or Do What I Swore to Do?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Some years back I said, “I swear by Allah, If I commit such and such sin ever again, I will keep a 100 fasts, who knows maybe even a 1000.”

I, unfortunately, committed the sin. Do I keep a 100 or 1000 fasts? Or do I give kaffarah?

Answer

I pray you are well.

You can either perform and expiation, or do what you swore an oath to do. If you chose to do that, then from the apparent wording, it would seem that 100 fasts are due. Keeping the fasts is superior, and probably more likely to help you in the long term. But the choice is yours. (Mawsili, al Ikhtiyar)

In future, if you decide to do something similar remember the words of the Messenger of Allah, “Those who go to extremes are destroyed. Those who go to extremes are destroyed. Those who go to extremes are destroyed.” (Muslim) Try to remain balanced and to not enforce on yourself momentous consequences which you won’t be able to do.

The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, said, ”A good appearance, deliberation, and a gentle, balanced approach are 1/40th of prophethood.” (Tirmidhi).

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.