Kaffaarah for breaking promises
Category:
Character & Morals
According to Madhhab:
Hanafi
Reference:
1440-237
Question:
What does the Shari'ah say regarding if a person takes an oath that he will not do a certain act and thereafter does the act? What is the Kaffaarah for him?
How must he carry out the Kaffaarah in todays times, with regard to money, etc?
How much money does he have to have to feed the people?
Does he have a choice of feeding or fasting?
Answer:
Yes, Kaffaarah will be necessary for such a person due to him acting against his oath. Kaffaarah entails:
Feeding:
A person can either feed ten Baaligh Masaakeen (poor people) two meals (lunch and supper) each or
Give ten Masaakeen each, one Saa’a (3.18kg) of dates or barley or half a Saa’a (1.59kg) of wheat or
Give ten Masaakeen each, money equal to half a Saa’a (1.59kg) of wheat (kindly contact the Jamiatul-Ulama for the current price)
Clothing:
Giving 10 Masaakeen such clothing that would cover most of their bodies and if the recipient is a poor female, one should provide enough clothing that would cover her entire body including a Khimaar (something that would cover her head e.g. scarf).
Setting free a slave:
This option cannot be adopted because there are no slaves these days.
Fasting three days consecutively:
If a person does not have the resources to feed or clothe ten Masaakeen, he will have to fast for three days consecutively. (Fataawa Qasmiyyah Vol. 17 Pg. 68)
It is stated in Al-Fataawa Al-Hindiyyah that if a person either has a slave or food or clothes for ten (10) in his possession, then it is not permissible for him to fast. Similarly, if he does not have the above, however, he has enough money for his Kaffarah apart from his necessities (i.e. shelter, clothes and food), then too, he will have to either feed or clothe ten Masaakeen. If a person is poor to the extent that he does not have the extra money apart from his necessities for Kaffaarah, then only will he have the option of fasting three days consecutively. (Fataawa Taatarkhaniyyah Vol. 3 Pg. 300)
AND ALLAH TA'AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST
ANSWERED BY: Abdullah Badat
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
Islamic Date: 10 Jumaadal Ula 1440 - English Date: 17 January 2019
