Is breaking a promise to Allah Almighty not to do a certain thing, then doing it out of forgetfulness or necessity, considered a breach of an oath requiring expiation? What is the difference between an oath and a promise to Allah? How is expiation estimated if the breaches are numerous and their number forgotten? And is it permissible to donate to charities with the intention of expiation?
A promise or covenant with Allah to perform an act of obedience has the ruling of a vow () and an oath (yameen). Therefore, it is obligatory to fulfill it. If one does not fulfill it, then an expiation for an oath (kaffarat yameen) is due. Allah Almighty says: "And fulfill the covenant; indeed, the covenant will be inquired about" (Quran 17:34). And Allah Subhanahu condemned those who break their covenant with Him. Whoever does not fulfill his promise to Allah must estimate the number of times [he broke it] and make expiation for each promise with an expiation for an oath, which is feeding ten poor persons or clothing them, or fasting three days for whoever cannot afford that. It is better to do good and abandon evil without an oath or covenant with Allah, to avoid embarrassment upon breaking it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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