Should My Oath Be Taken Literally or Based on My Intent?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If I took an oath not to speak to openly sinful people but intended it specifically for certain individuals, have I broken my oath if I speak to others not included in my initial intention? Should I interpret the oath literally or based on my original intent?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question and for seeking an Islamic answer to fulfill your religious obligations.
Your oath will be interpreted based on your original intent and will not based literally. However, if you want to be cautious and want to give an expiation (kaffara), it is as follows:
The Method of the Expiation (Kaffara)
The method of the Expiation of an oath (or vow is as follows):
The expiation of an oath is:
– Freeing a slave. (which is not applicable today) or,
– If one wishes, he may clothe ten destitute people, [giving] each of them one garment or more, the minimum of [each] being that in which salah is valid, [or]
– If one wishes, he may feed ten destitute people
If one is not capable of any of these three things, one fast for three consecutive days. [Ibn ʿAbidin, Radd al-Muhtar]
I want you to go through the valuable answers and the links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.
– What Are the Words Which Make an Oath Binding? – SeekersGuidance
– Oath Archives – SeekersGuidance
I pray this helps with 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.
