What constitutes violation of an oath sworn against wearing a specific garment?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Expiations
Primary text
If one swears an oath not to wear a specific garment, and that garment was a *rida'* (shawl) at the time of swearing, one breaks the oath by wearing it as a loincloth (*i'tizar*), a mantle (*i'timam*), a shirt (*qamis*), trousers (*saraawil*), or a robe (*qaba*). Similarly, if the garment was a shirt and it is worn as a shawl, or if it was trousers and worn as a loincloth, the oath is broken. This is the correct position within the Shafi'i school because the object has effectively been worn. The evidence supports this by showing that anything genuinely and customarily worn, like clothing, results in breaking the oath. The practice of the Prophet (peace be upon him) wearing slippers (*khuffayn*) gifted by the Negus and the confirmation by Ibn Umar that the Prophet (peace be upon him) wore sandals (*ni'aal*) serve as supporting examples concerning things worn on the body.
Supporting text
If the specific garment mentioned in the oath (e.g., a *rida'*) is changed into something else and worn (e.g., if the *rida'* is worn as a turban), the oath is not broken, because the oath was specifically tied to wearing it in its original designated form (*rida'*).