• “Or freeing a slave,” whether young or old, male or female, on condition that the slave be a believer, as stipulated in the verse that links it to faith (1), and that he or she be free from defects that impair productive ability.

Once a person expiates with any one of these three options, his oath is dissolved. This is part of Allah’s favor to this community: He has prescribed for them a means to release themselves from their oaths, lifting from them both obligation and blame.

• “But whoever cannot find any of these three must fast three days” (5:89)—consecutively when possible, as it is specified in the recitation of some of the Companions.

• “And guard your oaths” by refraining from swearing by Allah while lying and from excessive swearing, especially in buying and selling. Having sworn, guard them by not breaking the oath—unless breaking it is better than fulfilling it, as Allah says: “Do not let your oaths stand in the way of righteousness, God-fearing, and making peace between people” (2:224). Do not say, “We have sworn to abandon righteousness, piety, and reconciliation,” and thus let your oaths prevent you from deeds Allah and His Messenger love. Rather, break the oath, make the expiation, and do what is better, more virtuous, and more God-fearing.

Also guard your oaths when you do swear and then break them by paying the expiation, for the expiation itself is the preservation of the oath—it signifies veneration of the One you swore by. Whoever swears, then breaks the oath without making expiation, has neither preserved his oath nor honored his Lord.

• “Thus does Allah make His signs clear to you,” distinguishing the lawful from the unlawful and elucidating the rulings.

• “So that you may give thanks.” Therefore, the servants should thank their Lord for His clarification and for teaching them what they did not know, for knowledge is the root of all blessings and through it those blessings are completed.