Question :

I am a woman committed to the teachings of Islam and been married long time ago. I used to know one of my relatives in the past and we had an honest relationship and intended to get married more than once through making an oath by the Holy Quran, but my family refused the idea completely due to many differences. Further, the increase of the family’s issues forced me to walk away from him and decided to marry the first suitor, and I did but after making Istikhara 5 times (Invoking Allah for guidance), whereas the latter is a wonderful and lovely person and I am fully committed to this relationship. Besides, the former person got married. What is the ruling on breaking the aforementioned oath? 

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 of his family and companions.

We (Iftaa’ Dept.) praise Allah to facilitate both of your affairs and hope that your experience will be a lesson for whosoever makes unlawful relationship and makes oath by the Holy Quran as a mean for similar relationships. Yet the grace of Allah is limitless for He, The Exalted Said (What means):” But if they separate, Allah will compensate each out of His abundance. Allah is ever All-Embracing, All-Knowing. [An-Nisa’/131].

In conclusion, you (Questioner) are obliged to repent from similar relationships, ask Allah for forgiveness and perform acts that draw a person closer to Allah as well you are obliged to offer oath’s expiation; by feeding 10 poor Muslims because the Prophet (PBUH) said (What means):” Whoever swears an oath, then sees something better than it, let him do that which is better and offer expiation for his oath.”. [Agreed upon].

Further,the quantity and value of oath expiation is: Feeding 10 poor Muslims, each one must be given a Mud (600g of the common food of the country) or its value which is 60-100 piaster. And Allah Knows Best.