Tafseer: Fasting is not the atonement for breaking the oath

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

❝As a Kaffaarah (atonement/expiation) for breaking the oath, a person has been given the option to do one of the three:

1) Feed the poor,

2) or clothe them,

3) or manumit a slave.

A person has the option to do either one of the above three, and only when he is not able to afford it should he fast for three days.

But what has become widespread among the common people is that the Kaffaarah for breaking the oath is to fast three days - and this is wrong.

Therefore it is necessary upon the students of knowledge to make it clear for the people that fasting is not an option for a person who is capable of doing one of the above three (either feeding the poor or clothing them or freeing a slave).❞

[Tafseer Surah al-Maaidah [(5): 89] of Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen (2/319)]