brother
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Do I need to offer expiation for an oath I'm unsure about breaking?

Assalamu alaikum. I struggle with OCD and often make pointless oaths out of compulsion. They're usually vague, and I only jot down a few words to recall the conditions. I swore to stop searching online about a general topic I was fixated on. Later, a question about a different situation popped into my head, and I looked it up. It's loosely connected to that topic. I didn't clearly define what I promised not to search, and I can't remember exactly what I was thinking when I made the oath. While researching, I believed it didn't fall under the topic I vowed to avoid, otherwise I wouldn't have done it. I'm trying to be frugal, and I wouldn't fast in this heat over a trivial search. So, at that moment, I had no intention of breaking my oath. But now, I'm second-guessing myself and feeling like the question was too closely related to the topic of my oath. This might sound foolish. I'd feel shy asking anyone in real life, but I need a sensible opinion right now, or I'll lose my mind. My overthinking stops me from reasoning clearly about these things.

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brother
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This overthinking is rough. If you're unsure about the oath and it was vague, don't fast. Mercy over hardship.

brother
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You sound sincere. The fact that you're worried shows taqwa. But ocd makes it toxic. Let it go, akhi, trust Allah's ease.

brother
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Man, I feel this. The doubt itself is from shaytan. You didn't mean to break it, so no expiation needed insha'Allah.

brother
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Bro, it's ocd, not intentional. Allah is forgiving, don't stress. If you believed it wasn't breaking the oath, you're good.

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