Q. Could you please explain what compensation is due from someone who makes a promise, with an oath that he will fulfill this promise only to break his oath a few days later.
(Name and address withheld)
A. The breaking of an oath is a serious act, because it represents a promise, or a statement of fact, which one asserts by making God his witness. The person, or the people hearing it take it to be true because they would not expect that anyone makes such a solemn statement unless it is true. Therefore, Islam requires serious compensation for breaking such an oath. The compensation is detailed in Verse 89 of Surah 5, which says: “God will not take you to task for those of your oaths which you may utter without thought, but He will take you to task for oaths which you have sworn in earnest.
The breaking of an oath must be atoned for by the feeding of ten needy persons with more or less the same food as you normally give to your own families, or by clothing them, or by the freeing of one slave. He who cannot afford any of these shall fast three days instead. This shall be the atonement of your oaths when you have sworn (and broken them). But be mindful of your oaths.”
People often say to a person who breaks an oath that he should fast three days, but as you see from the Qur’anic verse, this is operative only for one who cannot afford to feed ten poor people or give them some clothes. If one can afford that, then he must compensate for breaking his oath by doing so. Fasting is not acceptable as compensation except from one who cannot afford the financial compensation.
As for your other question, removing armpit and pubic hair is strongly recommended at intervals not exceeding 40 days, while clipping one’s nails is not given specific time limit. It should be done when needed, so that a Muslim always has a good appearance. Cutting one’s hair is also done as suits a person, with no specific limit imposed on the length of one’s hair.
Arab News Islam 11 August 2003
