Rulings on Oaths and Breaking Them

Question :

I often repeat the statement: "Wallahi" (By Allah) when speaking. Is this considered an oath? And how may I atone for it if I lied?

Answer:

If a Muslim man or woman who is legally responsible repeats the word: "Wallahi" about a deed, or about not performing a deed, with a serious intention such as the saying: "By Allah, I will not visit so-and-so," or the saying: "I will visit so- and-so," twice or more," or the saying: "By Allah, I will certainly visit so-and-so," and the like then if he breaks that oath, by not doing what he swore to do, or doing what he swore not to do, he must make the atonement for an unfulfilled oath.

That is to feed ten poor persons, or clothe them, or free a slave. In feeding, he must give half a Sa' of the staple food of the country, such as dates, rice or the like. That is approximately one and a half kilograms. As for the clothing, it is whatever is suitable for praying in, such as a long shirt, or a waist wrap and upper wrap.

If he is unable to do any of these three things, then he must fast for three days, according to the Words of Allah, Most High:

Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate ouths; for its expiation (a deliberate oath) feed ten Masäkin (poor persons), on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn.

However if the oath passed his lips unintentionally, and without seriousness, then it is considered thoughtlessness, and there is no atonement incumbent upon him for that. This is based upon the Noble Verse, in which Allah, Most Glorified said:

"Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths."

It is enough for him to atone once for a repeated oath, if it was about one deed, as we have said previously. However, if it was about a number of deeds, then he must atone for each oath. Such as the saying: "By Allah, I will certainly visit so-and-so, by Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so, by Allah, I will beat so-and- so" and other similar statements. When he breaks one of these oaths or a similar oath, he must atone for it, and if he breaks all of them, he must atone for each of them.

And Allah is the Granter of success.