Subject : Repetition of an Oath on the Same Matter

Fatwa Number : 2681

Date : 12-09-2012

Classified : Oaths and vows

Fatwa Type : Search Fatawaa

Question :

A quarrel occurred between me and my friend, so I swore not to see him for a specific period of time. However, I couldn`t keep my oath many a time. What is the ruling of Sharia on this?

The Answer :

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.

The ruling on the expiation due on making an oath on the same matter repeatedly is mentioned in detail and in more than one case:

If the breaking of the oath took place after it was made and the same act was repeated three times, then you (questioner) are obliged to offer expiations equal to the times in which you broke your oaths because every broken oath has its own expiation since one expiation doesn`t suffice for several broken oaths. In addition, if you couldn`t remember their (oaths) number, then it suffices to make an estimation.
However, if you repeated the same oath on the same matter then broke it afterwards, one expiation suffices even if that oath was made in several places.
It is stated in [Mughni Al-Muhtaj, 6/187] :" If a person made an oath on the same matter repeatedly, as means of confirmation, then the more correct opinion here is that one expiation suffices, as stated in the Shaffii` books {Al-Madhab} and {Fatawa Al-Musnaf}." And Allah knows best.

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