Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
If a person cannot afford Kaffarah (expiation) for a broken oath, Islam requires sincere effort to fulfill it through lawful means, even if done gradually. Haram wealth cannot be used as worship but must be disposed of properly without seeking reward. Fasting is only permitted as a substitute when one genuinely lacks the financial ability to feed or clothe the poor.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Islam connects wealth to worship, emphasizing the importance of how we earn and spend money. Earnings from haram sources, such as Riba (interest) or fraud, are not lawful for personal use or for funding acts of worship.
In genuine hardship, if no immediate halal alternative exists, one may utilize only what is necessary for basic needs while actively seeking lawful income.
To cleanse tainted wealth, individuals should give away an equivalent amount to the poor without expecting any reward. This act serves as a means of repentance rather than charity. Esteemed scholars have supported this practice.
If it is difficult to fulfill an obligation all at once—such as feeding the poor for expiation or repaying a debt—payments may be made in installments. Gradual fulfillment is valid and rewarded, as stated: “Give according to your means.” Continue to give steadily and sincerely until the obligation is met.
Fasting cannot serve as a substitute for financial obligations, such as Zakah, or for necessary feeding if you can pay. Fasting is only a substitute in specific cases of Kaffarahs when you genuinely cannot afford the required feeding or clothing. Otherwise, voluntary fasting is intended for spiritual growth, not as a replacement for monetary responsibilities.
In summary, strive for halal earnings, eliminate any haram proceeds, fulfill your obligations—even if gradually—and use fasting to strengthen your spirit, not to evade payments. “Whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect.” (At-Talaq 65:2–3)
👉 Learn more about related Islamic rulings:
- How to Repent for Making a False Oath
- Can You Take an Oath by the Quran?
- Breaking a Promise to Allah: Is Kaffarah Needed?
- Is Swearing by Other than Allah Permissible?
- Swore to Not Speak to Wife; What Do I Do?
- In a Non-Muslim Court: Can I Swear on the Bible?
Almighty Allah knows best.