It is not recommended to make vows, and whoever makes a vow must fulfill it
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Question:
Shaykh, is it recommended for people to bind themselves to these vows? Honorable Shaykh, is this recommended?
Answer:
Making a vow is not recommended to begin with, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a Muslim from making vows because it puts him in a difficult position. He might make a vow that is hard for him while he is in good health. Also, this indicates a lack of desire for righteous deeds unless he makes a vow. So if he has not made a vow, he should leave it. But if he has made a vow and the vow is established, he must fulfill it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 2126Sahih (Darussalam)
And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said regarding the righteous that they fulfill their vows. And He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: "And let them fulfill their vows." So after the vow is established, it is obligatory to fulfill it.
As for before a person enters into it, it is forbidden. He should not enter into it, but he should do good according to his ability, and not bind himself to something that Allah has not obligated upon him from the start. Yes.
Shaykh, is it recommended for people to bind themselves to these vows? Honorable Shaykh, is this recommended?
Answer:
Making a vow is not recommended to begin with, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade a Muslim from making vows because it puts him in a difficult position. He might make a vow that is hard for him while he is in good health. Also, this indicates a lack of desire for righteous deeds unless he makes a vow. So if he has not made a vow, he should leave it. But if he has made a vow and the vow is established, he must fulfill it. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه، ومن نذر أن يعصي الله فلا يعصه.And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) said regarding the righteous that they fulfill their vows. And He (Exalted and Majestic is He) said: "And let them fulfill their vows." So after the vow is established, it is obligatory to fulfill it.
As for before a person enters into it, it is forbidden. He should not enter into it, but he should do good according to his ability, and not bind himself to something that Allah has not obligated upon him from the start. Yes.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، 1322 - لا يستحب النذر، ومن نذر وجب عليه الوفاء - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.