Oaths

The tongue has to be kept from swearing too much. As Allah, Exalted be He, said: {And make not Allah [i.e. His Name] an excuse in your oaths} (Q. 2:224). And He, Exalted be He, said: {And protect your oaths} (Q. 5:89). And He, Exalted be He, said: {And obey not everyone who swears much} (Q. 68:10).

Being sinful and disobedient personed will be very easy for the one who swears too much.

The oaths are divided in three: the binding oath (al-ma’qūda), the heedless oath (al-laghu), and the immersion oath (al-ghamūs). 

●     The first one: an expiation is a religious obligation in case of revoking it. It means that someone swears on doing a possible future matter. For example, if one swears that s/he will not enter a house but then enter it. Consequently, s/he has to do the expiation immediately. Neglecting it is not allowed if one was able to do it. The expiation in this case is divided into three: emancipation of a slave or feeding ten needy persons. One should provide them with dinner and supper. If one wishes, one can grant them one sā' of any type of grain, except barley—then in this case, it will be enough to render a half sā' only. Or one can grant them clothes which look new. He must provide the previously mentioned from his own wealth, or he should buy them if they do not exist in his property. If he does not have the money to buy the said things, he must fast for three consecutive days.

●     The second is the heedless oath: which means that if he swears that a thing is true—because he really thinks that it is true—but discovered it not to be true, then he will not be considered sinful and there are no required expiation.

●     The third is the immersion oath, which immerses the one who says it in Hell and turns houses into deserted ruins, according to the saying of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. It means that someone swears on something that he knows it is false, or on something that he does not know and cannot determine if it is true or false. It is considered one of the greatest sins which require immediate repentance. The expiation cannot cancel this great sin. So the expiation is not required in this case.

Vows (an-Nadhr)

Whoever makes a vow of doing some kind of worship in which he obeys Allah—like fasting, charity, or anything like that of the duties—then he must fulfil it completely. As the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, said: ((Whoever makes a vow and names it, must fulfil it. But if he did not name it then he must do the expiation of the oath)).