Breaking an Oath (FATWA)

The Question

If someone took a shar`ī oath multiple times regarding a matter then acted against it, will the decision of the matter regarding which he took a shar`ī oath multiple times be acceptable or not?

The Answer

If he sees benefit, according to the sharī`ah, in contradicting an oath, he should act against it and give the atonement. Otherwise, to break an oath without any lawful reason is ḥarām. Allāh E says:

وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ

And protect your oaths!

The messenger of Allāh G states:

من حلف على يمين فرأىٰ غيرها خيراً منها، فليأت الذي هو خير وليكفر عن يمينه

Whoever takes an oath then sees something else to be better than it, he should go with that which is better and expiate for the oath.

This is the case for the decision as well. If he took an oath that he will make a decision in a certain manner then he found the ruling of sharī`ah to be against it, then it is farḍ upon him to act against it (the oath) and expiate [for it]. If the ruling of sharī`ah was that which he took an oath upon and he contradicts it, then there is sin for breaking the oath and the sin of cruel and unjust judgment is even more severe.

Allāh E knows best.

Answered by:

Imām Aḥmad Raḍā Khān V