Oaths & Vows

Q: What is the kaffarah of breaking a qasam (oath) on Allah?

Q:

1. What is the difference between oath and niyat?

2. I made a niyat to Allah Ta'ala that 'me niyat karta hu aaj ke baad TV aur movies nahi dekhuga ' but I did not take Allah Ta'ala's name? Is my niyat valid?

3. If I break my niyat? Will I be sinful? 

Q: I just came to know yesterday that taking a qasam of ghairullah (anyone besides Allah) is not allowed in Islam.

I don't remember taking a qasam of ghairullah but I have a doubt that years ago I might have asked someone in texting to take a qasam of his mother and he refused to take it. I was ignorant about it. What should I do now?

Is asking someone to take qasam of his mother is also sin? although he refused to take it. 

Q: I have 3 questions about a verse in the Quran.

1. The verse talks about oaths, does the verse refer to oaths made to God? E.g. I swear to God that I will not do this, and then one breaks the oath and then expiates it or does it refer to swearing on someone else, like when you swear on somebody e.g. I swear on you/I swear on your life that I didn't do this or I will do this etc.

2. If one swears on their spouse, e.g. I swear on you/I swear on your life that I didnt do this, but actually the spouse did do what they were saying, would an expiation be needed as said in the Quraan or is it only in regards to making oaths to God?

3. If one says to their spouse, I make an oath (but didn't say I make an oath to God) that I didn't do this, but actually did do the thing they said they didn't, would an expiation be needed?

The verse is as follows:

“God does not take you to task for the oaths you utter unintentionally, but He will certainly take you to task for the oaths you have sworn in serious intention. The expiation (for breaking such oaths) is the feeding of ten desperate persons with the average of what you feed to your own families, or to clothe them, or to set one subjugated person free from bondage. Who does not find the means, shall fast for three days. This is the expiation for your oaths whenever you have broken them. But do keep your oaths. Allah makes clear to you His commandments, so that you may fulfill your duties.” (Al-Maidah / The Feast 5:89)

Q: What is the kaffarah for not being able to fulfill an oath made to Allah?

Q: I broke few oaths made in my lifetime. In order to do the kaffarah, I have to feed 10 persons 2 times or buy clothes or fast for 3 days. Alhamdulillah, by the grace of Allah, I can afford to sponsor food for 10 persons twice. But it’s difficult for me to feed the same 10 persons twice. Can I feed 20-30 persons once or shall I fast 3 days (easiest option)?

Q: Please can you tell me if I need to return to my oath or not after giving the kaffarah?

Q: Few months back my father's prostate report came abnormal. I made niyat to Allah Ta'ala that I will send someone for umrah and will stop watching TV and movies if his next report comes normal. Then I thought that sending someone for umrah is a good act and stop watching Tv and movies is a bad act, so I made niyat of it irrespective of the result of his next report.

My question is, is my oath a formal oath? Because I made niyat like this "I am making this niyat that I will send someone for umrah and stop watching Tv and movies from now.

According to what I have learnt, an oath or niyat should be taken with the name of Allah like "in the name of Allah" or "wallahi" or similar to this? I am 99 percent sure that while making the niyat I have not taken the name of Allah.

Note: Alhamdulillah with the blessing of Allah I sent one person for umrah but I am unable to avoid TV and movies, i just want to make some changes in it.

Q: I made a niyat a few months ago and now I want to make some changes to it because it is getting difficult to stick to the niyat. I made a niyat like this that "I am making niyat that I will stop committing this sin from today"

My question is, while making niyat I did not take Allah Ta'ala's name, I just said that I am making this niyat and is it still necessary for me to stick to this niyat? I want to stay on this but I just want to make some changes in it.

Q: A few years ago I made a promise that I would not have a certain food and drink until I got married but a few months ago I felt that Allah does not need me to stop eating and drinkig for a fulfilment of a need but rather I should do dua and other optional deeds. So I first gave money towards the poor (kaffara) and re-started eating what I had stopped but I am not sure if I should have done this. If not, please let me know what I should do now?