Is saying "O Lord, I have decided not to do such and such" considered an oath, and what is its expiation if one goes back on the action?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The statement "O Lord, I have decided not to do such-and-such" is not an oath but a promise. If the action is a sin, then it is obligatory to repent from it, cease doing it, and fulfill the promise to Allah, because breaking a promise is one of the signs of hypocrisy, as stated in the : "The signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; whenever he promises, he breaks his promise; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays his trust." Fulfilling a promise to Allah is more worthy of observance.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/33988
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 33988
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy