Kaffarah for breaking the oath
Question
If someone has as anxiety disorder which is a chemical imbalance in the brain and is on anti depressants however with these tablets he has to take a sedative, is it jaiz to take the sedative from the psychiatrist even though he promised Allah he would not take that tablet because in his young days he abused that same tablet. Now it is a coincidence that the doctor prescribed that same tablet.
Answer
Under the circumstance, it will be permissible for him to take the tablet. If he had taken an oath that he will not take the tablet, then he must give the kaffarah for breaking the oath.
The kaffarah for breaking an oath is that one feeds 10 poor people two meals or gives them the amount of sadaqatul fitr (i.e. each poor person should be given the amount of sadaqatul fitr) or clothes them with such clothing with which one is able to perform Salaah in it. If one is unable to fulfill this, then one should fast for three days consecutively with the intention of atoning for the broken oath.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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