Is it permissible to postpone the expiation for an oath (kaffarat al-yameen) due to a liquidity crisis, and to suffice with the small amount of money for expenses, or is it obligatory to fast three days immediately? And is it permissible to fast the nine days of Dhul-Hijjah voluntarily if postponement is allowed?

First: The expiation for an oath is by feeding ten needy people, clothing them, or freeing a slave. If one cannot find these, then by fasting for three consecutive days. The amount for feeding is estimated at a mudd of wheat or half a sa' of other food, which is approximately 7.5 kilograms of rice according to the majority of scholars, or 15 kilograms according to the Hanbalis. If the person possesses enough to purchase this amount, then feeding is obligatory, and fasting is not permissible for him.

Second: If the expiator's money is absent or inaccessible, there are two scholarly opinions regarding this: 1. The First Opinion (the preferred one): The expiator should borrow if he finds someone to lend him. If he does not find anyone, then he should fast. He only resorts to fasting if borrowing is impossible. This is the view of the Malikis and Hanbalis. 2. The Second Opinion: He may immediately resort to fasting because he is considered as not having the money. This is the view of the Hanafis.

The preferred opinion is the first one, because the expiation for an oath is a financial obligation that is not waived by the absence of money, and it does not have a specific time that expires by delaying it, unlike matters that have a specific time, such as the sacrificial animal in Hajj or tayammum for prayer.