Do I Need to Prioritize Kaffara Over Personal Expenses?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

During a period of severe anxiety, I made vows to Allah, including promises to perform certain acts of worship and statements about punishment if I sinned again.

I have not fulfilled those vows and may owe multiple kaffara payments.

I recently bought home exercise equipment. Was I required to prioritize paying kaffara first?

Am I sinful for this purchase, or can I use what I bought while gradually paying what I owe?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Don’t worry, you can use what you bought and pay the expiations (kaffara) gradually.

Multiple Expiations Concession

In the Hanafi school, a single expiation (Kaffara) suffices to expiate several broken oaths.

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]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.

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I pray this helps answer your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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.