Kaffarah for breaking an oath
Question
I broke an oath and I would like to know if it is permissible for me to donate at Islamic Relief USA, where they provide for the needy across the globe, instead of looking for poor people at my hometown due to difficulties?
Answer
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.
If the Islamic organisation will fulfill these requirements, then the kaffara will be discharged.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
لَا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّـهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَـكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا عَقَّدتُّمُ الْأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَن لَّمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّـهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿المائدة: ٨٩﴾
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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