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The question

How can one atone for a binding oath if the number of expiations is not remembered, and one is unable to feed, clothe, or free a slave, and fasting is difficult?

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

Whoever owes expiations (kaffarat) but does not know their exact number should strive to estimate them. If unable to determine the precise number, then the minimum certain amount is obligatory, because the original state is the acquittal of one's liability. The expiation is primarily by feeding, clothing, or emancipating a slave. If one cannot do any of these three, then one must fast for three days, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿ALLAH WILL NOT IMPOSE BLAME UPON YOU FOR WHAT IS LAGAWI (UNINTENTIONAL) IN YOUR OATHS, BUT HE WILL IMPOSE BLAME UPON YOU FOR WHAT YOU INTEND OF OATHS. SO ITS EXPIATION IS THE FEEDING OF TEN POOR PEOPLE FROM THE AVERAGE OF THAT WHICH YOU FEED YOUR [OWN] FAMILIES OR CLOTHING THEM OR THE FREEING OF A SLAVE. BUT WHOEVER FINDS NONE - THEN A FAST FOR THREE DAYS.﴾ [Al-Ma'idah: 89]. If one is also unable to fast, then nothing is obligatory upon them, as Allah Almighty says: ﴿ALLAH DOES NOT CHARGE A SOUL EXCEPT [WITH THAT WITHIN] ITS CAPACITY.﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 286]. However, when one becomes able to perform the expiation, they must do so. It is not obligatory to perform expiation for all oaths at once when unable to do any of them; rather, whenever one is able to perform an expiation, they should render it.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported

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Where this answer came from
Source platform
Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
151257
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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