Q: I am a married man and I have three children. I have taken an oath that I would marry another woman. Having repeated that oath many times, I hope Your Eminence would give me a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) concerning whether I am obliged to marry another woman or not. I feel embarrassed because of my children and I do not want any disagreements to happen between them and me. Am I to be blamed for that oath which I have taken more than once and I am determined to fulfill it? Please, answer me in written form in detail.

A: The oath you have taken to marry another woman is something good and encouraged, as it increases the number of Muslims. If you do not fulfill your oath, you have to offer Kaffarah (expiation) for an oath, which involves: (Part No. 23; Page No. 76) Feeding ten Miskins (needy persons), or providing them with clothing, or emancipating a believing slave. If none of these is affordable, you must observe Sawm (Fast) for three days, for Allah (Exalted be He) says: 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. And protect your oaths (i.e. do not swear much). Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah wills, I do not swear an oath and then see something that is better than it but I offer Kaffarah for my oath and do that which is better." In another narration, he (peace be upon him) said: "...I do that which is better and offer Kaffarah for my oath." (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.