1. As a student with no source of income other than what my family gives me, and I have saved money sufficient to feed or clothe ten indigent persons, is it permissible for me to expiate my oath by fasting three days, or must I begin by feeding or clothing? 2. What kind of oath is considered a “laghw al-yameen” (a vain or unintentional oath)? 3. When does expiation become obligatory for an oath sworn concerning an action or its occurrence without specifying a time, such as swearing to recover deleted files? 4. Is my statement to my friends, "By Allah, you will return" – intending for them to visit me again – considered "laghw al-yameen" and non-binding? And do I fulfill my oath if they visit me at any time, even if after a long period? 5. Is it permissible to pay money to a charitable organization with the intention of expiating an oath, or must we provide the food or clothing ourselves? And what type of clothing is sufficient for "al-kiswah" (clothing an indigent person)?
What you take from your father as an expiation for an oath is obligatory if the money exceeds your needs. It is permissible for you to appoint someone to give the expiation on your behalf. The obligatory clothing for the expiation of an oath has been explained in a previous fatwa. A vain oath is one that the swearer's heart does not intend, and no expiation is due for it. However, if you intended to swear an oath, then it is a binding oath for which expiation becomes due upon breaking it. If you swore to perform an action and did not specify a time, then you are not considered to have broken the oath until you despair of performing it, and you are absolved by performing it whenever it becomes easy; otherwise, the expiation becomes binding upon you.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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