What is the expiation for someone who said "we hear and we obey" regarding a good deed he intended to do but then did not do? And is this similar to an oath?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
An oath is only valid when made in the name of Allah or one of His attributes, as stated by the esteemed scholar Khalil al-Maliki in al-Mukhtasar: "An oath is the affirmation of something not yet obligatory, by mentioning the name of Allah or one of His attributes, such as 'by Allah.'" Accordingly, saying "sam'an wa ta'atan" (we hear and obey) is not considered an oath, nor does an oath become binding by it, nor does it necessitate expiation.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/123252
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 123252
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- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy