The Book of Oath, Penance, and Vows

Question: A man, at the beginning of his life, did not care about disobeying Allah, and he used to swear oaths a great deal. Then he repented to Allah and regretted what had issued from him. So what is required...

Question: A man grew up ignorant among ignorant people, heedless of the religion and its teachings. Then guidance spread, and he listened to the admonitions of the guides and attended their gatherings, so he repented to Allah the Exalted and...

Question: A man swore by a vow (nadhr) of such-and-such that he would not do a certain act, then he did it. Then he repeated the vow and then broke it; and he swore by Allah and broke it; then...

Question: Is it permissible to use figurative expressions and metaphors frequently in speech among people who understand only the apparent (literal) meaning? And does one fulfill his oath if he swears, “This is my garment,” while intending (only) “a garment...

Question: A man swore by the divorce of his wife if she entered the house of so-and-so, and his motive for swearing was that in that house there was a man about whom he had doubts. If that man then...

Question: A person made a covenant with Allah, Glorified be He, that if He healed him from such-and-such illness, he would indeed remember Allah for three continuous months. Then he said: “And if I do not fulfill (this), O Lord,...

Question: It is very often asked about someone who intended: “If Allah heals my sick relative, I will fast three days,” or something similar. Is that binding?

Question: A man swore by the divorce of his wife that he would not sit with his friends who had strongly urged him to sit with them. He is from a distant land, and he uttered this oath while in...

Question: In some regions it is very common to swear by these oaths: “(It is) ḥarām and divorce that I will indeed do such-and-such,” or “I did not do such-and-such, (it is) ḥarām and divorce,” and “(It is) ḥarām and...

Question: A man swore that he would dedicate his wealth as a waqf if he did such-and-such, and then, after some time, he did what he had sworn about. What is required of him, and how is he to act,...