A vow of contention: its ruling is the ruling of an oath

Question : The questioner says: I once swore an oath and said, “I will not do this thing, and if I do it, I will fast for two consecutive months.” I am afraid now that I will do this thing. I ask you to bear witness, may Allah bless you, for I am confused about this matter.

Answer : Yes. What the questioner mentioned is that he wants to refrain from this thing. So he swore that if he did it, he would fast for two consecutive months. His purpose in doing so was to cite a strong reason for prevention within himself, which is fasting for two months. Such a thing is classified as a vow; it is classified as a vow. A vow intended for encouragement, prevention, affirmation, or denial is called a vow of contention or anger by the scholars of knowledge, and its ruling is the ruling of an oath. Accordingly, we say to this man: if you do that, it is obligatory for you to pay the expiation for an oath, which is freeing a slave, or feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave.