Is it valid to fast three days as an expiation for an oath, while being able to feed ten poor people?
Expiation through fasting is not sufficient for an oath's expiation except when one is unable to feed ten poor people, or clothe them, or free a believing slave. Thus, if someone possessed sufficient wealth for expiation through feeding, clothing, or freeing a slave, but forgot about it and fasted, their fast is not sufficient. And if they could find someone to lend them money and were capable of repaying it, their fast would not be sufficient.
However, if you are eligible for zakat (poor or needy), or if the money you possess is only sufficient for your own expenses and you have no excess wealth beyond that, then you are not obliged to expiate through feeding, clothing, or freeing a slave, and you are permitted to resort to fasting.
The Hanbalis hold the view that the wealth which necessitates expiation through fasting is that which suffices for a day and a night. Therefore, whoever possesses more than what suffices for their day and night, their fast is not sufficient.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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