the oaths of all Muslims, both in wording and in meaning. No scriptural text, consensus, or analogy restricts its scope; rather, the revealed proofs confirm its general applicability.

Oaths in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger are of two kinds: one is legally recognized, binding, and admits of expiation, such as swearing by Allah. The other is neither legally recognized nor binding and does not admit of expiation: namely, swearing by created beings. If the oath in question is among the oaths of Muslims, then expiation applies to it, and it belongs to the first kind. If it is not among the oaths of Muslims, it belongs to the second. Asserting the existence of a binding oath that does not admit of expiation has no basis in the Quran or the Sunnah.

Dividing the oaths of Muslims into those that admit of expiation and those that do not is like dividing intoxicating drinks into wine and non-wine, journeys into long and short, or gambling into prohibited and permissible forms. Rather, the foundational principles require the contrary. A detailed discussion belongs elsewhere. However, this third position—that expiation applies to all oaths of Muslims—is the position supported by mutually consistent revealed proofs. It is also what has been transmitted from the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) and the leading Successors: