Question

Asalamualaikum,
I said (verbally): ‘Ya Allah I promise if I am saved from ‘such and such’ thing then I will take an oath to stop ‘such and such’ sin and that because of the oath, InshaAllah by Allah’s mercy allow me to do good on a specific exam.’
Is there kaffarah for not fulfilling the promise to make an oath?
I have made an oath since, to give up that sin for a given time period, does this fulfill my promise, or will I have to take another oath to give up this sin forever?
Additionally, will there be a time limit for me to make that oath (before my exam), or could I do it after as well? If I do it after the exam, would there be kaffarah?
JazakAllah Khairan

Answer

A promise to make an oath is not binding and you are not obliged to make the oath, as this was merely a promise. Hence, there is no kaffarah for not making the oath. If you already made an oath to stop that sin then your promise will have been fulfilled and you must abide by your oath. If you break your oath then you will have to pay the penalty.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel