I was angry and swore by Allaah that I will not phone my friend again. But now I want to phone him. What is the Sharee‘ah ruling on my oath? Am I guilty for making such an oath?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

Before mentioning the ruling, we first want to clarify that the state of anger which makes one's oath not binding is that when one is unaware of what he says. When one experiences such a state, his oath is not binding and he is liable for nothing in case he breaks his oath.

As for your question, if your anger was mild and you were aware of what you said, you should talk to your friend and offer an expiation for your oath. You are not guilty if you do this since the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

·        “Whosoever made an oath about something and then saw that something else is better than it, he should do that which is better and expiate for his oath.” [Muslim]

·        “If I take an oath about something and then see that something else is better than it, I will do that which is better and expiate for my oath.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

The expiation for a broken oath is mentioned in the verse where Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] – then a fast of three days [is required].} [Quran 5: 89]

Allaah Knows best.