Does the divorce of a father who swore to divorce his daughter if she allowed a specific man into his house take effect, knowing that the reason for the oath is his intense love for Sufism? Is expiation obligatory? Can the daughter pay the expiation without her father's knowledge? Is it permissible for her to listen to this shaykh's lectures without her father's knowledge?

Sufism is a science that purifies souls and refines morals for the sake of eternal bliss. Scholars have differed in their judgment of those who affiliate with it, as some are blameworthy and some are praiseworthy. The correct view is that they are mujtahidun (those who strive to derive legal rulings), among whom are those who draw near [to God] and those who are moderate, and among them are those who err and those who sin. The guiding principle in all of this is adherence to the Qur'an and Sunnah (definition). Whoever adheres to them is from Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah (the People of the Sunnah and the Community), and his affiliation with Sufism is not to be denounced. However, if he deviates from that, he should be advised gently.

Regarding the father's oath by divorce: if he conditioned the divorce on the video tape entering the house, and that occurred, then the divorce takes effect according to what he conditioned it on. It is not permissible to annul the oath according to the majority of scholars; it is considered a conditional divorce. However, if the father's intention with the oath was merely to encourage or prevent, without intending to bring about divorce, then he may break the oath and pay its expiation. It is necessary to approach the father regarding this serious matter gently and wisely to inquire about his intention and to explain the Sharia (definition) ruling to him.