What is the required obligation for someone who swears an oath to slaughter their child, either conditional or unconditional?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Oaths
Primary text
For an oath regarding the slaughter of one's child, such as saying, 'If I do such-and-such, it is incumbent upon Allah that I slaughter my child,' or vowing the unconditional slaughter of the child, the ruling according to one narration from Ahmad and the قياس (analogy) of the school is that the expiation of an oath (*kaffarat yamin*) is due. This is based on the understanding that such an oath is either a forbidden vow or a vow of contestation, both of which necessitate an oath expiation. This is supported by the statement attributed to Ibn Abbas regarding a woman who vowed to slaughter her son: 'Do not slaughter your son, but expiate your oath.'
Supporting text
A second narration states that the expiation is the slaughtering of a ram (*kabhsh*) to be given to the poor, a view held by Abu Hanifa and attributed to Ibn Abbas as well. This is argued because the vow to slaughter a child is likened in legislation to the vow to slaughter a sheep, referencing the event involving Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). Others maintain that no expiation is due whatsoever because it is a vow of disobedience, which is neither to be fulfilled nor is expiation due for it, based on the Hadith, 'There is no vow in disobedience.'