The poor people fed as Kaffarah for an oath


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Q 1: What is Kaffarah (expiation) for an oath? If such Kaffarah involves feeding poor people, how can they be known? Are they those who solicit alms? Have they certain conditions such as performing Salah? Are children included as long as their family belongs to the limited or low-income classes? As for animals and birds, can they be fed as expiation for breaking oaths?


A: Kaffarah for breaking an oath is to feed ten poor people from the common food, clothing them, or freeing a believing slave. If you are unable to do so, you may fast for three days. The poor people are those who do not have enough to live on. Therefore, they are given what is enough to support them. The same applies to children, so long as they and their supporters are poor, then they should be given what is sufficient for them. As for animals and birds, they should not be fed from the money dedicated to fulfilling an obligation, (Part No. 23; Page No. 12) such as Zakah (obligatory charity) and Kaffarah. Rather, they can be fed from voluntary charity money.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.




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