Kaffaarah

Assalamualaykum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakaatuhu

In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.

We acknowledged receipt of your query and your answer follow hereunder:

Yameen is generally translated as an oath or a promise in the English language. The definition of yameen in Shari’ah is to give assurance to an affair by mentioning either the Name of Allah Ta’ala or one of the attributes of Allah Ta’ala. Yameen could be used to assure an affair that took place in the past (e.g. the defendant takes an oath in court when the plaintiff cannot provide witnesses) or give assurance to do or refrain from an action in the future (e.g. a person takes an oath that he will not smoke in the future).

(Mu’jam al-Mustalahat wa al-Alfadh al-Fiqhiyyah Vol.3 Pg.517)

(Tanzheem al-Ashtat Vol.2 Part 1 Pg.225 – Nashriyyat-e-Islam)

When a person takes an oath upon the name of Allah to do or refrain from in the future, it will be incumbent upon him to fulfil that oath. When he does not fulfil (breaks) the oath, it will be compulsory upon him to give Kaffarah (penance) for misusing the name of Allah.

The Kaffarah for breaking an oath is:

1.      Free a slave (not applicable in these times), or

2.      Feed ten poor people an average two meals, or

3.      Clothes ten poor people enough clothes to cover the majority of their bodies.

If one cannot do anyone of the above three for a valid reason then he may fast for three consecutive days.

 (Rad al-Muhtar Vol.3 Pg.725 - H.M Sa’eed Company)