How can a person atone for an unknown number of oaths? Is a husband obliged to pay the expiation on behalf of his wife if she is poor? Is it permissible to delay the expiation until money is available or until one can fast? Is it obligatory to sell jewelry to provide the amount for expiation?
Expiations multiply with the number of things sworn upon, but they are unified if the oath was concerning a single thing. If the number is unknown, then precaution should be taken.
The husband is not obliged to pay his wife's debts, and she is responsible for her expiations. If the husband volunteers, it is permissible.
The expiation for an oath is: feeding ten poor people (one and a half kilograms of rice for each poor person) or clothing them (a shirt for each poor person), or freeing a slave. If one cannot find any of these, then he must fast for three days.
One resorts to fasting if he does not possess more than enough for his and his family's sustenance for a day and a night, and more than his basic needs (housing, vehicle, servant, jewelry not exceeding what is necessary). If he has a surplus beyond his needs, he must sell it and expiate with the remainder; otherwise, he must fast.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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