Is Saying Ya Allah, I Will Not Do This Again, a Promise or An Oath?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
A few months ago, when repenting from a sin, I think I said to Allah ‘Ya Allah, I will not do this again’.
However, I did repeat the sin after saying that. Is this a promise or an oath? Do I need to do anything to break it?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
The statement’ Ya Allah, I will not do this again’ is not an oath but a promise. There is no expiation (kaffara).
Oath
An oath (yamin) is when one verbally pronounces “By Allah” (wa’Llahi) or a similar phrase of swearing. If such an oath is made and then broken, one may simply change one’s mind and pay the expiation (kaffara).
Promise
A promise (wa’d) is when one did not verbally pronounce “By Allah” or a similar wording. In that case, it is disliked but not sinful to change one’s mind, and no expiation is due. Breaking a promise is sinful only if one made it with the intent to break it later.
Allah Most High said: O you who believe, fulfill the contracts. [Quran, 5:1]
And Allah Most High said: O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do? Great, it is in contempt of Allah that you say what you do not do. [Quran, 61:23]
Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, ‘The signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks, he lies, whenever he promises, he breaks his promise, and whenever he is trusted, he betrays his trust.’
In another narration, the Prophet said, ‘Even if he fasts and prays and claims to be a Muslim.’ [Bukhari]
What is a Promise?
A promise is simply a statement that one will do or refrain from something in the future. There is no expiation due for breaking it, although it is sinful to make a promise with the intention of breaking it.
If, when making the promise, one intends to fulfill it, then breaking it would be disliked. [Nahlawi, Al-Durar al-Mubaha]
Legal Distinction Between a Promise to Allah and an Oath by Allah
A promise “to Allah” is legally a promise, whereas a promise “by Allah” is legally an oath.
One should avoid unnecessary promises and oaths, as doing so burdens oneself with unnecessary commitments.
And Allah knows best.
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
- Is There a Difference Between Breaking an Oath and Breaking a Promise? — The core distinction: “by Allah” makes it an oath (with kaffara if broken); without that wording, it is a promise (no expiation due).
- Does Breaking a Promise to Allah Most High to Not Sin Necessitate an Expiation (Kaffara)? — A promise without an oath carries no kaffara; one seeks Allah’s forgiveness and renews one’s resolve.
- Which Types of Oaths Require Expiation (Kaffara) if Broken? — Clarifies which oaths actually entail an expiation and which do not.
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.
