Q:

Salam

I have broken so many promises and oaths ,  but i never expiated , for example, expiation (kaffara) for breaking promises  (kaffara) is to [a] feed ten poor people (​two meals each) or, [b] to clothe them (​one garment each) or, [c] to give them the equivalent monetary value. If one is unable to do that, one must fast three consecutive days.

But the problem is i still haven’t expiated because i don’t even remember which promises  and oaths i broke.

My question is what happens when we don’t expiate them? How ALLAH punishes?does ALLAH expiate our sins by giving us calamities?

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

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.

Breaking promises does not entail kaffarah (expiation/atonement), but breaking oaths does. Allah (exalted is He) says what means, “Allah will not hold you accountable for unintended vows in your oaths. But He will hold you accountable for what you have [intentionally] bound yourselves to by oaths, the atonement of which is feeding ten indigent people with the average of what you feed your own families; or clothing them; or freeing a human being from bondage. But if one [of you] does not find [such means], then fast three days [instead]. That is the atonement for your oaths, when you swear [and break them]. So guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His [revealed] signs, so that you may give thanks.” (Al-Maidah 5:89)

The more oaths you take and break, the more kaffarah you have to pay. If one has broken so many oaths that he/she cannot remember, one has to figure out an approximate number of broken oaths and atone for them until he thinks that he has most likely atoned for all broken oaths. If one cannot pay all atonements at once, he may schedule them, according to his means.

Yes, calamities, diseases, afflictions, and the like mishaps expiate for Muslim’s sins as long as one shows no signs of impatience. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No Muslim shall be stricken with weariness, pain, anxiety, grief, hurt, mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn but Allah will expiate his sins thereby.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah Almighty knows best.