Is it permissible to delay fasting for an atonement oath for three days or a little more in order to feed ten needy people?
The expiation for an oath is immediately obligatory according to the majority of jurists. So, if you are able to feed the poor, you must give the expiation immediately, and delaying it is forbidden. However, if you are unable to feed the poor, you are required to fast. It is permissible to delay the expiation for a short period, such as three days, to enable you to feed the poor, as this benefits the poor. This is analogous to delaying zakat due to the extreme need of the recipient, kinship, or the need of the one paying the zakat. If your money is unavailable, borrow if you can; otherwise, fast.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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