Is it permissible to pay the expiation for an oath (kaffarat al-yameen) in installments over five months by feeding ten poor people each month, through donating money to charitable organizations, knowing that the questioner is a university student?

The expiation for an oath is: feeding ten poor persons, or clothing them, or freeing a slave, with a choice among these three. Whoever cannot find any of that, then he must fast for three days. 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 the freeing of a slave. But whoever finds not [the means to do so] - then a fast of three days [is his expiation]" [Al-Ma'idah: 89].

Installment payment of the expiation is permissible according to those who do not stipulate its immediate fulfillment. However, its immediate fulfillment is preferred if the reason for breaking the oath was a sin. It is permissible to pay the expiation to a trusted charity. If a person is unable to feed or clothe, then fasting three days is sufficient for each expiation. The criterion for inability is not finding what exceeds one's daily and nightly sustenance, and the sustenance of one's dependents, to cover the expiation.