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Can I Only Feed One Meal As Expiation for Breaking an Oath?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Seekersguidance.org
Question:
Can I only feed one meal as expiation for breaking an oath?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
Thank you for your important question.
May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.
When paying an expiation for breaking an oath, it is necessary to feed or give the monetary value of two meals. One is not sufficient.
Allah, Most High says in the Quran:
“Allah will not call you to account for your thoughtless oaths, but He will hold you accountable for deliberate oaths. The penalty for a broken oath is to feed ten poor people from what you normally feed your own family, or to clothe them, or to free a bondsperson. But if none of this is affordable, then you must fast three days. This is the penalty for breaking your oaths. So be mindful of your oaths. This is how Allah makes things clear to you, so perhaps you will be grateful.”  [Qur’an, 5:89]
“Feed ten poor people from what you normally feed your own family” is understood to mean at least two meals (ex. Lunch and dinner). [Nasafi, Madarik al-Tanzil/ Alauddin Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-Alaiyya]
The current monetary value for two meals in America would be approximately $7-8.
By only feeding one meal, you would not be fulfilling the verse of the Qur’an.
Please see
And Allah knows best,
[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

This answer was collected from Seekersguidance.org. It’s an online learning platform overseen by Sheikh Faraz Rabbani. All courses are free. They also have in-person classes in Canada.

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