One who is unable to fulfill a vow delays it until he is able
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The first question of Fatwa number ( 18588 )
Q1: I was afflicted with an illness and made a vow that after recovery I would fast for a
full month. Then, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, I recovered and began fasting. After some time had passed in the fast, I felt hardship, as I am an elderly man and unable. Is it permissible for us to be content with the days I have already fasted, or should I complete the month despite the hardship, or can I feed people in place of the fast? Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
A1 : Making a vow is disliked; for it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade vows and said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 3802Sahih (Darussalam) In another wording: Sahih Muslim 1639c It was narrated by the group except al-Tirmidhi from the hadith of Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). However, if you made a vow of obedience, like the vow mentioned, it is obligatory for you to fulfill it; for it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: Sunan Ibn Majah 2126Sahih (Darussalam) It was narrated by the group except Muslim from the hadith of 'A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). The vow you made is a vow of obedience; it is obligatory for you to fulfill it, even if done in parts, if you did not intend to do it consecutively. There is no harm in delaying it until you are able. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q1: I was afflicted with an illness and made a vow that after recovery I would fast for a
full month. Then, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, I recovered and began fasting. After some time had passed in the fast, I felt hardship, as I am an elderly man and unable. Is it permissible for us to be content with the days I have already fasted, or should I complete the month despite the hardship, or can I feed people in place of the fast? Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.
A1 : Making a vow is disliked; for it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he forbade vows and said:
They do not change anything
إنه لا يرد شيئًاIt does not (necessarily) bring good (in the form of substantial, and tangible results), but it is the meant whereby something is extracted from the miserly persons.
لا يأتي بخير وإنما يستخرج به من البخيلWhoever 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
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.