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What are the rulings on fulfilling an oath, and when is it permissible to break it? Is it permissible to swear by the Prophet? Is an oath temporary or permanent, and how does one differentiate between a permanent and a temporary oath?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Fulfilling an oath falls under the five legal rulings. It is obligatory to break an oath if it was sworn to commit a forbidden act or to neglect an obligation. It is important to note the prohibition of swearing by anyone other than Allah, and that this type of oath is not binding and does not require expiation. However, it is obligatory to honor and obey one's parents, as long as it does not involve disobedience [to Allah]. An oath sworn by Allah may be temporary or perpetual, depending on the wording, intention, or underlying motive.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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