Kaffarah

What is the kaffarah for violating an oath?

 

 

 

Answer

Assalaamu alaykum

Below is an extract from Behisti Zewar. And Allah Ta'ala knows best

Was salaam

Emraan Vawda

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Paying Kaffarah on Breaking an Oath

1. If a person breaks his oath, he will have to pay a kaffarah which comprises feeding 10 persons with two meals each. Alternatively, he could give dry groceries to each poor person. When giving wheat, he should give approximately one and half to two kilos. When giving barley, he should give approximately three to four kilos. For the rest of the details connected to feeding the poor refer to the chapter on kaffarah for fasting. This has been mentioned previously.

Alternatively, he could give some clothing to 10 poor persons. The clothing must be such that it can cover a major portion of the poor person's body. For example, if he gives a sheet or a long kurta, the kaffarah will be fulfilled. However, this clothing that he gives should not be very old. If each poor person is given a lungi or a pants, the kaffarah will not be fulfilled. But if he gives a kurtah with it as well, the kaffarah will be fulfilled.

A person has the choice of either giving food or clothing. The kaffarah will be fulfilled with any one of the two. The above-mentioned rule regarding clothing is only applicable if the clothing is given to a man. If clothing is given to a poor woman, it must be such that her entire body is covered and she is able to offer salaat with that clothing. If the clothing is less than this, the kaffarah will not be fulfilled.

2. If a person is poor and is therefore unable to feed or clothe 10 poor people, he will have to fast for three days consecutively. If he does not fast consecutively for three days, and instead misses a fast or two in between, the kaffarah will not be fulfilled. If a person fasts for two days, and misses a fast on the third day for some reason or the other, he will have to recommence fasting. The first two fasts will not be considered.

3. Prior to breaking his oath, a person gave the kaffarah. After giving the kaffarah, he broke his oath. The kaffarah which he had given will not be valid. After breaking his oath, he will have to give kaffarah again. Whatever he had given to the poor persons prior to breaking his oath cannot be taken back from them.

4. A person took an oath several times. For example, he said: "I swear by Allah that I will not do that work." Later, he repeats the same oath irrespective of whether he repeats it on the same day, the next day or even on the third day. Alternatively, he says: "I swear by God, I swear by Allah, I swear by the Quran that I will definitely do that work." Thereafter, this person breaks this oath of his. He will only have to give one kaffarah for all these oaths.

5. A person had taken several oaths and therefore had to give several kaffarahs. According to the preferred opinion, he will have to give a separate kaffarah for each oath that he had taken. If the person does not give it during his lifetime, it will be wajib upon him to make a bequest in this regard before he leaves this world.

6. The food or clothing that is given as kaffarah will have to be given to those poor persons who are eligible to receive zakaat.