What are the consequences for my paternal aunt who swore "by one hundred oaths, I will not take my mother [somewhere] nor will I walk in her funeral," then sought forgiveness and repented?
What the aunt did was wrong in two respects: First, swearing in that manner shows a lack of reverence for an oath by Allah, as Allah the Almighty says: "And do not make [the name of] Allah an instrument for your oaths," and His saying: "And guard your oaths." Second, her swearing to sever ties with her mother, alive and dead, which is a grave sin. The aunt did well by seeking forgiveness and repenting, and she must seek her mother's pleasure and ask for her forgiveness, resolving not to return to such an act. Scholars differed on the necessity of expiation for such an oath. The Malikis, Hanafis, and some Hanbalis believe expiation is necessary according to the number of oaths, while the Hanbalis and Shafi'is believe it is not an oath and there is no expiation for it. The sounder opinion is to adopt that of the Shafi'is and Hanbalis for two reasons: First, the absence of Allah's name or one of His attributes in the wording. Second, obliging her to perform one hundred expiations involves extreme hardship, and Allah the Almighty says: "And He has not placed upon you in religion any difficulty."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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