without then seeing something else that is better than it, except that I expiate for my oath and do what is better,’ or as he, peace and blessings be upon him, said. And Allah, majestic and exalted, says: “Do not make Allah, by your oaths, an obstacle to righteousness, piety, and making peace among people” (al-Baqarah 2:224). Therefore one must not let an oath stand between him and the better course of action; rather, he should do what is better, even though it means breaking the oath, and he must pay the expiation for his oath.

Question: What is the difference between an oath that requires expiation and one that does not?

Answer: An oath that requires expiation is one a person intentionally utters about a possible future matter. If the oath slips out without intent, that is laghw—an idle oath that does not take effect—for Allah, exalted be He, says: “Allah will not call you to account for idle oaths in your sworn statements” (al-Baqarah 2:225). Such an oath merely rolls off the tongue without deliberate intent. Likewise, if someone knowingly swears about a past matter while lying, this is the yamin ghamus—the plunging oath—which plunges its taker into sin. He incurs sin for it; it is among the major sins. There is no expiation for it; rather, he must repent to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and never repeat the like of it.

Question: Even if he did not know he was lying?

Answer: No. If he did not know he was lying, this too counts as an idle oath, for if a person swears about something he believes to be true and later discovers that reality is otherwise, there is no blame or sin upon him; this is also regarded as a laghw oath.