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The question

Is it permissible to postpone the expiation for an unknown number of oaths by selling an item that would enable the purchase of more sheep, knowing that the financial situation is currently difficult?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Frequent swearing is reprehensible in Islamic law. If a person swears multiple times concerning one matter, only one expiation is required, as stated by Ibn Umar: "If you swear repeatedly, then it is one expiation." However, if the swearing is on different matters, then an expiation is required for each type of oath broken, if the number is known. Otherwise, one must err on the side of caution and perform expiation for the largest number thought to be obligatory.

The expiation for an oath is determined by the person's financial situation. If they have sufficient wealth, they have the choice between feeding the poor, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If they do not have enough, they must fast for three days for each oath. It is not a condition to delay the expiation until money is available; rather, it is preferable to hasten it immediately after breaking the oath, as is well-known among scholars, unless the delay is for organizational necessity, in which case there is no harm. Some scholars hold that the obligation of expiation is on a relaxed timeline unless its cause was a sin. It is not necessary to perform the expiation all at once; rather, it may be divided as made easy. Not being married or employed does not affect the obligation of expiation.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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