Vowing to sell his sheep once he finds them

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Q: I had sheep which I lost for two days. Then a car owner came and told me that he found sheep and cattle eaten by a wolf at 10:00 pm. I swore that if the sheep, which were fifty, were safe from the wolf, I would sell them. Only two were eaten by the wolf, so should I sell them or not?

A: If the case is as you have mentioned, you have two options: Either to sell them and there is nothing else you should do or to keep them and pay a Kaffarah (expiation) for breaking the oath, which is feeding ten needy persons, on a scale of the average of the food which you feed your own families, or clothe them or free a believing slave. It is permissible for you to give every poor person half a Sa` (1 Sa`=3 kg. Approx.) of wheat, dates, rice or the like.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.