Breaking an oath or promise.
Q. If someone makes an oath, promise and pledge to Allah to stop smoking and they go back and continue smoking is there any consequence for this and what is/are them/they.
A. In this case, a person will be accountable to Allah for breaking his promise and not fulfilling the oath. In Islam, this is a very grave matter and in order to make amends, one must feed ten poor persons twice a day or clothe them. He also has the choice of setting a slave free. In cases where one cannot do either of the above, then it is essential upon him to fast for three days consecutively. In this regard, the Holy Quran states, ‘Allah will not punish you for what is unintentional in your oaths, but He will punish you for your deliberate oaths. For its expiation (a deliberate oath) feed ten poor persons on a scale of the average of that with which you feed your own families, or clothe them or manumit a slave. But whosoever cannot afford (that), then he should fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths when you have sworn’. (Sura Al Maida (5) verse 89)
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan