Is the utterance "Li 'umri" or "'Umraka" an oath requiring expiation?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Oaths

Book 59 · Issue 3 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

The utterance "Li 'umri" (My life) or "'Umraka" (Your life) is not considered an oath requiring expiation according to the majority of scholars. The supporting reasoning is that this phrase constitutes an oath by the life of a created being, and therefore does not mandate expiation, similar to saying "Wa hayati" (By my life). This is because the term implies a presupposition such as "My oath concerning your life," where 'Umr signifies life or perpetuity.

Supporting text

Al-Hasan stated that for the utterance "Li 'umri," expiation is obligatory.