General Fund

Kaffarah Breaking Oath

If you swore an oath by Allah and broke it, your Kaffarah is to feed ten people in need. Pay £30 for each broken oath and we will provide the meals on your behalf.

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About this appeal

Given out within a weekYour Kaffarah is part of our weekly hot meals, so the meals are given to people in need within one week.

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If you swore an oath by Allah and broke it, your Kaffarah is to feed ten people in need, one meal each. Give £30 for each broken oath and Global Helping Hands will provide the meals on your behalf.

What is Kaffarah?

Kaffarah (expiation) is what a Muslim gives to make up for breaking a sworn oath (yamin). Allah sets it out in the Qur'an:

"Allah will not hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths, but He will hold you accountable for what you have deliberately sworn. Its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your own families, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. But whoever cannot find the means, then a fast of three days." (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:89)

When is Kaffarah due?

Kaffarah is due when you deliberately swear by Allah to do, or not to do, something in the future, and then break that oath. It is not due for an oath said without intention, such as "no, by Allah" or "yes, by Allah" in everyday speech, because the verse excuses unintentional oaths.

If you swore to do something and then saw that something else was better, the Sunnah is to do what is better and pay the Kaffarah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "If you swear an oath and then see something better than it, then do what is better and offer expiation for your oath." (al-Bukhari and Muslim)

How much is Kaffarah?

Kaffarah is feeding ten people in need, one meal each, of the kind of food you would give your own family. At Global Helping Hands this is £30 for each broken oath.

Broken oaths	People fed	Amount
1	10	£30
2	20	£60
3	30	£90

Each broken oath needs its own Kaffarah. If you broke more than three, enter the total in the custom amount box: £30 multiplied by the number of oaths.

Can I fast instead of paying?

Only if you are unable to feed ten people. The verse gives the order: feeding, clothing or freeing a slave first, and only for someone who cannot find the means, a fast of three days. If you can afford the £30, fasting does not replace it.

How GHH delivers your Kaffarah

We provide the meals to people in need on your behalf, as part of our hot meal distributions. We share these distributions on our social media, so you can see the meals being given. There is no individual update for each Kaffarah.

Your Kaffarah is kept separate from our other funds and spent only on feeding, and 100% of it reaches the people it feeds, under our 100% donation policy.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kaffarah the same as Fidyah?

No. Kaffarah here is for a broken oath. Fidyah is for fasts that someone cannot make up because of long-term illness or old age. There is also a separate Kaffarah for deliberately breaking a Ramadan fast, which is different again.

Can I pay Kaffarah for someone else?

Yes, you can pay on behalf of a family member with their knowledge. Add their name in the order notes.

Do I have to pay straight away?

Scholars advise paying as soon as you can once the oath is broken, so the obligation is not left outstanding.

Can Kaffarah be given as money to the poor?

The verse speaks of feeding, so GHH uses your payment to provide food, not cash.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What is Kaffarat Yameen?

Kaffarat Yameen is the expiation required for breaking an oath. It involves feeding 10 poor people, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If none of these is possible, fasting for three consecutive days is required.

Can I pay Kaffarat Yameen in cash?

Kaffarat Yameen should be fulfilled by providing food or clothing directly. Cash payments are generally not accepted unless necessary and guided by a scholar.

Can I delegate my Kaffarat Yameen to a charity?

Yes, you can delegate your Kaffarat Yameen to a reputable charity that will ensure the expiation reaches the needy in the correct form (food or clothing).

How much food should be given for Kaffarat Yameen?

You should provide the average amount of food that you would typically eat, equivalent to about 1.5 kilograms of staple food like rice, for each of the 10 people.