The Vow of Fasting and Inability to Fulfill It
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Fatwa No. ( 18140 )
Q: I vowed to fast for a month if Allah extended my life and I saw my family. Allah willed that I should see them, and the fulfillment of the vow remained upon me. However, due to my physical weakness and inability to bear fasting, is it possible for me to perform the expiation instead of fasting, or what should I do? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.
A: 1 - If one vows a vow of disobedience, it is not permissible to fulfill it, and he owes the expiation for an oath; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan Ibn Majah 2125Sahih (Darussalam) . It was narrated by the people of the Sunan. 2 - If one vows a vow of obedience and is unable to fulfill it due to old age, an illness that is not expected to end, or other reasons, he owes the expiation for an oath, and his conscience is cleared thereby;
based on the saying of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):Sunan Abi Dawud 3322Da'if Marfu' (Al-Albani) . It was narrated by Abu Dawud and he said: The one who narrated it stopped it at Ibn 'Abbas . 3 - If one delays a vow of obedience from its time, he owes to make it up, and there is no expiation upon him, just as one who breaks his fast in Ramadan and makes up what he owes afterwards owes no expiation. And Allah knows best. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I vowed to fast for a month if Allah extended my life and I saw my family. Allah willed that I should see them, and the fulfillment of the vow remained upon me. However, due to my physical weakness and inability to bear fasting, is it possible for me to perform the expiation instead of fasting, or what should I do? Please inform us; may Allah reward you.
A: 1 - If one vows a vow of disobedience, it is not permissible to fulfill it, and he owes the expiation for an oath; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
There is no vow to commit disobedience, and the expiation (for such a vow) is the expiation for breaking an oath.
لا نذر في معصية، وكفارته كفارة يمينbased on the saying of Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
if anyone takes a vow he is unable to fulfill, its atonement is the same as that for an oath
من نذر نذرًا لا يطيقه فكفارته كفارة يمين
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.