Question Summary:
Question on taking of oaths

Question Detail:

Salam Alaikum Mufti Saheb,
 
My Question is regarding oaths and swearing in the name of Allah (Saying Wallahi).
I used to suffer from heavy obsession or waswasa. Alhamdulillah it is much better now but still prevalent. Sometime I used to say wallahi I will/will not do such and such an act in order to counter the waswasa so that I may be alert that I have said Wallahi and reduce the bad habit of waswasa. But eventually the waswasa used to get the better of me and I end up doing the opposite, thereby breaking my promise. This has happened many many times now. And I used to end up doing istighfar and ask dua for forgiveness. Almost all the time I said Wallahi was to fight off a bad habit and waswasa.
I would like to know:
Whats the solution to my breaking of those oaths, since I do not remember how many times I have broken my word. Whats the Kaffarah for the broken oaths as there are many? Could I fast 3 days in a row every week for a few months (ex:Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday)? So that I may cover up the due as Kaffarah and any excess will be rewarding insha Allah.
a.) Whats the condition for an Oath (Saying Wallahi) to be binding, do I have to verbally say it out loud or thinking it in my mind sufficient? As both incidents have occurred, Verbally and thinking. 

b.)Is reciting the Ayathul Kursi, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas sufficient to fight Waswasa or are there more recitals to be done?
 
Jazakah Allah for your time in answering my questions.
May Allah (SWT) Bless you all Insha Allah.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
1.      The kaffārah for breaking an oath is feeding ten people two meals each or giving each one of them a pair of clothes.[1] If you are not able to this then you should fast for three consecutive days. You may only fast as a Kaffarah if you cannot feed or clothe the poor. [2]
 
You should apply your discretion in the number of Kaffarah you owe. Once you have come to a figure, complete the number of kaffarah you have estimated.
 
2.       
a)     One must pronounce the words of an oath for an oath to take place.[3] An oath does not take place by merely thinking about an oath.
 
b)    From amongst the many tricks and tactics of shaitaan is to whisper to man. You should be cautious about allowing yourself to be consumed by these tactics of shaitaan.. The present dilemma that you are facing is from amongst the tricks of shaitaan. Do not pay any heed to these thoughts.
 
Recitation of the Mua’awzatain is one of the most effective ways in combating whispers. Another powerful tool for whispers is recitation of ta῾awwudh. The words of ta῾awwudh are the following
 
أَعُوذُ بِاَللَّهِ مِنْ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
a῾ūdhubillāhi minashaytānirajīm
 
“Oh Allah I seek refuge in you from the accursed shaitan”
 
 
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Ali bin Cassim,
Student Darul Iftaa
Los Angeles, U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.