What is the expiation for someone who swore an oath, naming a person, before marriage, then found himself unable to fulfill it out of consideration for his wife's feelings?
It is permissible to break an oath if you find something better than it, and an expiation for the oath becomes obligatory. This expiation is: feeding ten poor persons, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. If one cannot find any of these, then fasting for three days, as Allah Almighty says: "Its expiation is the feeding of ten poor persons from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or freeing a slave. But whoever finds not [the means] - then a fast of three days. That is the expiation for your oaths when you have sworn. And guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful." And as the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever takes an oath and then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better and make expiation for his oath."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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