Q 2: What is the ruling on two men who made a pledge to something and recited Surah Al-Fatihah [the Opening Chapter]? Should it be fulfilled? What is the Kaffarah (expiation)?

A: Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah when making a pledge has no basis in religion. If the pledge is made on something lawful, it must be fulfilled because Allah (Exalted be He) says: (Part No. 2; Page No. 302)  And fulfil (every) covenant. Verily, the covenant, will be questioned about. Also, Allah says: And fulfil the Covenant of Allâh (Bai‘ah: pledge for Islâm) when you have covenanted The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Three are the signs of a hypocrite: when they speak they tell lies, when they make a promise they break it, and when they are trusted they betray (the trust)." (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim as narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him). It is related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of `Abdullah ibn `Amr ibn Al-`As (may Allah be pleased with both of them) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Anyone who has the following four (characteristics) will be a pure hypocrite and anyone who has one of the following four characteristics will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless and until they give it up: Whenever they speak, they tell lies; whenever they make a promise, they break it; whenever they quarrel, they deviate from the truth; and whenever they make a pledge, they prove treacherous." May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.