Frequent Questions Answered

• What is Kaffarah for breaking an oath?

  Kaffarah (also spelled kaffara) is the expiation a Muslim makes after breaking a solemn oath sworn in God's name. It comes from the Qur'an (5:89), where the atonement for a broken oath is to feed ten needy people, clothe them, or free a slave — and, only for someone who cannot manage any of those, to fast for three days. Making kaffarah restores your standing after the oath is broken; it does not make breaking the oath itself blameless if it was wrong to break.

• How much is Kaffarah for breaking an oath?

  The obligation is to feed ten needy people, so the cost is tied to ten meals rather than a set dollar figure in scripture. Human Appeal provides those ten meals at about $9 each, which is why kaffarah through us is $90 — ten nourishing meals for ten people in the communities that need them most. If you have broken more than one oath, a separate kaffarah is due for each.

• What are the ways to fulfill Kaffarah?

  Scholars recognize three primary options, and you choose the one you're able to do: feed ten needy people, clothe ten needy people, or free a person from bondage. Fasting three consecutive days is permitted only for someone who is genuinely unable to afford any of the first three. For most people today, feeding ten people is the simplest and most accessible route.

• When do I need to pay Kaffarah?

  As soon as you're able after the oath is broken. There's no fixed deadline and it isn't tied to a particular time of year — kaffarah can be given at any point, and it's best not to delay it once you know it's due.

• Is Kaffarah for a broken vow (nadhr) the same as for a broken oath?

  They're closely linked. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, "The kaffarah for a broken vow (nadhr) is like the kaffarah for a broken oath." So if you made a vow to God that you were unable to keep, the same expiation — feeding ten needy people — applies.

• Where does my Kaffarah go?

  Human Appeal directs your Kaffarah to providing meals for vulnerable families in the countries most in need, so your atonement reaches people facing real hunger. You fulfill your obligation, and ten people are fed with dignity.