Fatwa: # 18242
Category: Beliefs
Country: Canada
Date: 25th August 2009

Title

I have a short question about taking an oath or swearing on the name of Allah. Today I was talking with my friend and I said Wallahi as I thought somthing never happened as it...

Question

I have a short question about taking an oath or swearing on the name of Allah.  Today I was talking with my friend and I said Wallahi as I thought somthing never happened as it never happened in front of me.  But couple minutes later i found out that happened.  Do i styll have to keep the kaffarah for breaking it or, since my intention was clean is it okay as I thought it never happened.  Also what is the kaffarah for breaking the oath.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

Oaths are of three types:

  1. Ghamoos
  2. Laghw
  3. Munaqidah

 

Ghamoos

Ghamoos is a false oath which a person takes regarding the past or present knowing that it is false.

The ruling of this oath is that a person will be sinful. He should make tawbah and repent to Allah Ta’ala. There is no kaffarah in this oath.

 

Laghw

Laghw refers to that oath which a person took regarding the past or present thinking it to be true whereas it was false. Laghw also includes those promises which are always on people’s tongues.

It is hoped that a person would be forgiven for this type of an oath.

The scenario in your query falls under this category.

 

Munaqidah

Munaqidah is an oath which a person takes regarding the future.

If a person breaks such an oath he will have to give kaffarah.

And Allah knows best

Wassalaamu `alaykum

Ml. Ishaq E. Moosa,
Student Darul Iftaa

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa

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