The ruling on one who vows to pray in the Prophet's Mosque

Question : If one vows to pray in the mosque of Madinah, the Prophet's Mosque, is he required to fulfill that vow?

Answer : There are two opinions among the scholars regarding this. According to al-Nu'man, who is Abu Hanifah (may Allah have mercy on him), fulfilling a vow for a voluntary act is not obligatory. According to the majority, it is obligatory, and this is based on a foundational principle. Abu Hanifah holds that fulfilling a vow is not obligatory except in matters whose original ruling is obligatory. Except in matters whose original ruling is obligatory. For this reason, he made fulfilling the vow obligatory if one vows to visit the Sacred Mosque, because its original ruling is obligatory, which is the circumambulation of the House. He did not make fulfilling the vow obligatory if one vows to pray in the Prophet's Mosque. The correct view is that fulfilling the vow is obligatory if one vows to pray in the Prophet's Mosque. Therefore, he presented to us proofs