Q 2: One of his relatives always takes an oath on her children. (Part No. 23; Page No. 127) Will she be considered sinful if she does not offer Kaffarah (expiation) for every broken oath?

A: If the woman in question lays an oath on her children or others, meaning to obligate them to do or not do a certain thing, and they do not act accordingly, this is considered a binding oath for which she must offer Kaffarah (expiation). The Kaffarah is to feed ten Miskin (needy people), to clothe them, or to free a believing slave. The amount she should feed each person is half a Sa‘ (1 Sa‘ = 2.172 kg) of the most prevalent food of the country, such as wheat or rice etc. If she is unable to feed or clothe them, or free a slave, she should observe (Fasting) for three days. The woman should try to work out the number of the oaths that she deliberately made and offer Kaffarah for each of them. If she is able to offer these Kaffarahs, but she does not do so, she will be considered as sinful for not complying with Allah’s Command to expiate for deliberate oaths, and blamable for neglecting this. Allah (Exalted be He) says (what means): Allâh will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths; for its expiation feed ten Masâkîn (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. It is obligatory on this woman to offer Kaffarah for each of the deliberate oaths (Part No. 23; Page No. 128) she made and then broke if they were for different matters, but if they were all for one thing, one Kaffarah will suffice. We advise this woman not to make her oath by Allah an excuse against acting rightly, not to swear too much by Allah over insignificant matters, and not to bind herself by oaths she may not be able to expiate for or even count, lest she falls into sin. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much). And: And make not Allâh’s (Name) an excuse in your oaths against your doing good and acting piously May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.