Oath
Assalamu aleykum.Is it considered an oath when one says “God,i will not eat the food” instead of saying “By Allah,i won’t eat the food”.Notice
1.changing Allah to God
2.Not saying the word “By”
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
- If a person takes an oath using the name(s) of Allāh or any other word used to refer to Allāh, then the oath will be binding.
Based on the above, if one takes an oath on ‘God’, it is the equivalent of taking an oath on Allāh since it can only refer to Him; hence, such an oath will be binding.
- If a person said ‘God’ instead of ‘by God’, then an oath will be binding upon him in the case where he had the intention of taking an oath at the time of his statement. If he had no intention of taking an oath, then it will not be binding upon him.
Furthermore, if a person had the intention of taking an oath (by God) not to eat ‘the food’ in reference, then the oath is binding and he may not consume the food which he was referring to.
If a person violates the oath, then he should first turn to Allāh in repentance for having used His name to initiate an oath which he then violated.
A person should also atone for the sin in any one of the following manners intending to expiate for the sin incurred:
- Feed ten poor people two average meals for one day (e.g., lunch and supper)
- Feed ten poor people one average meal per day for two days (i.e., lunch on both days or supper on both days
- Feed one poor person two average meals a day for ten days (e.g., lunch and supper)
- Provide 3.18kgs of dates or barley, or its equivalent monetary value to ten poor people, each receiving the stipulated amount
- Provide 1.59kgs of wheat, or its equivalent monetary value to ten poor people, each receiving the stipulated amount
- Clothe ten poor people with full garments sufficient enough to cover their bodies in a way that they will not be regarded as ‘naked’ or ‘half naked’. If a woman is from amongst the ten poor people, then she should be given a headscarf or something which will cover her hair as well.
If a person is unable to fulfill any of the aforementioned ways of atonement due to a valid reason, such as financial constraints for example, then he should fast for three consecutive days.
References
[References: Radd Al-Muḥtār 4/12 Dār Al-Fikr, Kitāb Al-Mabsūṭ 7/140 DKI, Fatḥ Al-Qadīr 5/69 DKI, Al-Fatāwā Al-Sirājiyyah 272 Zam Zam]