As for the law of those before him, under the law of the Children of Israel, if a man declared something forbidden to himself, it became forbidden to him; and if he swore to do something, it became obligatory upon him. Their law provided no expiation. Allah Most High said:

“All food was lawful to the Children of Israel except what Israel had forbidden to himself before the Torah was revealed.”

Thus, Israel forbade something to himself, and it became forbidden to him. But Allah Most High said to our Prophet:

“O Prophet, why do you forbid what Allah has made lawful for you, seeking to please your wives? And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

“Allah has already ordained for you a way to release yourselves from your oaths.”

This provision is the one mentioned in His words:

“O you who believe, do not forbid the good things Allah has made lawful for you, and do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love transgressors.”

“And eat of what Allah has provided for you, lawful and good, and fear Allah, in whom you believe.”

“Allah will not hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths, but He will hold you accountable for the oaths you deliberately bind yourselves by. Their expiation is to feed ten poor people from the average of what you feed your own families, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. Whoever cannot afford this must fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths you swear. And guard your oaths. Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you, so that you may be grateful.”

For this reason, since the law of those before us provided no expiation, and an oath instead obliged them to perform what they had sworn to do, Allah commanded Job to take a bundle of stalks in his hand and strike with it, thereby avoiding breaking his oath. His law provided no expiation for an oath. Had it provided such expiation, that would have been easier for him than striking his wife, even with a bundle of stalks, for Allah had restored his family to him and given him as many again. But since what they made binding by an oath had the same standing as what