What is the expiation for one who swears much and does not remember his oaths, and doubts whether he did what he swore not to do? And what is the ruling for one who began an act then remembered his oath and stopped, and is expiation due upon him?
Whoever is afflicted with whispers (waswas) should strive against them by ignoring them and seeking refuge with Allah. Whoever is certain that he swore an oath and then broke it is obligated to offer expiation (kaffara). If the number of oaths is unknown, one should expiate for what is most likely to clear their conscience. Doubt about an oath or breaking it does not necessitate anything, and the default is freedom from liability. Whoever swore an oath to abandon something and then did it out of forgetfulness, and then stopped doing it, does not owe any expiation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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