A woman vowed that if Allah cured her child, she would fast for a full year. Her child was cured, but she was unable to fulfill her vow. Is there a way out of this vow through expiation?

The questioner : His first question says: A woman had a son who was struck by a serious illness, so she vowed that if Allah cured him of that illness, she would fast for Allah for a full year. Her son was cured, grew up, and got married, and the years passed, but she was unable to fulfill her vow and did not fast even one day. Is there a way out of this vow through expiation or the like?

The Shaykh : The answer to this is, first, it should be known that a vow is disliked, and in fact, some scholars have forbidden it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited making vows. How many people have made a vow, and then when the condition they attached the vow to was met, they struggled to get out of what they vowed, and perhaps they did not fulfill what they vowed out of negligence. At that point, one fears that they will fall into what Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: Therefore, a person should not make a vow, whatever the case may be. Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) averts evil and brings about good without any condition being set for Him. If you are struck by a calamity or a trial, ask Allah the Exalted to remove it from you. If you want good, ask Allah the Exalted to make it easy for you. As for making a vow, it is as if your inner self is saying that Allah does not give except with a condition, and this is not something that should be done. It is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he prohibited making vows and said: So a vow does not bring good to anyone, nor does it avert evil from anyone. But the miser who does not give charity unless he obligates himself to do so is the one who makes a vow in order to give charity. And we say, secondly, in answering this question: This woman who vowed to fast for a year must fast for the year, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): And if she is unable to fast, then she owes nothing. And Allah knows best.