My mother made a vow upon herself and did not fulfill it
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Fatwa No. ( 19495 )
Q: II have a mother who made a vow upon herself but did not fulfill it,and this was not due to her inability, but for reasons. The story is this: I have an older brother, and Satan incited him to get into a fight with one of his colleagues at work, resulting in his death by stabbing him with a knife. The family of the victim did not forgive him and demanded retaliation (qisas) against my brother. People of good character intervened to reconcile the family of the victim so they would forgive, but they did not forgive. Among those who intervened was the judge of the case, may Allah reward us all for him. Then Allah willed and decreed that the family of the victim forgave the demand for retaliation, may Allah reward us all for him. At the beginning of the case, my mother vowed upon herself that if she saw her son
walking with his colleagues—meaning if he remained alive—she would give the one who reconciled them two *saff* of dates (two trays of dates) every year as long as she was alive. Since the judge of the case was the one who reconciled them after Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), she actually committed to sending two trays of dates the first time to a man who was the intermediary and knew the judge, and he delivered them to him. After that, the intermediary returned to us with one hundred and fifty riyals from the judge, saying that he did not need the dates. The intermediary has since passed away, and the judge has moved from the court where he was working. We inquired about him but found out nothing about him. This story is about fifteen years old, and my mother is advanced in age. Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you.
A: It is obligatory for your mother to pay the expiation for an oath, because this vow is considered an oath. The expiation for an oath is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a believing slave. Whoever cannot find the means to do so must fast for three days, as our Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) stated in Surat al-Ma'idah in His saying:[Al-Ma'idah 5:89]
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: II have a mother who made a vow upon herself but did not fulfill it,and this was not due to her inability, but for reasons. The story is this: I have an older brother, and Satan incited him to get into a fight with one of his colleagues at work, resulting in his death by stabbing him with a knife. The family of the victim did not forgive him and demanded retaliation (qisas) against my brother. People of good character intervened to reconcile the family of the victim so they would forgive, but they did not forgive. Among those who intervened was the judge of the case, may Allah reward us all for him. Then Allah willed and decreed that the family of the victim forgave the demand for retaliation, may Allah reward us all for him. At the beginning of the case, my mother vowed upon herself that if she saw her son
walking with his colleagues—meaning if he remained alive—she would give the one who reconciled them two *saff* of dates (two trays of dates) every year as long as she was alive. Since the judge of the case was the one who reconciled them after Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), she actually committed to sending two trays of dates the first time to a man who was the intermediary and knew the judge, and he delivered them to him. After that, the intermediary returned to us with one hundred and fifty riyals from the judge, saying that he did not need the dates. The intermediary has since passed away, and the judge has moved from the court where he was working. We inquired about him but found out nothing about him. This story is about fifteen years old, and my mother is advanced in age. Please issue a ruling for us, may Allah reward you.
A: It is obligatory for your mother to pay the expiation for an oath, because this vow is considered an oath. The expiation for an oath is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a believing slave. Whoever cannot find the means to do so must fast for three days, as our Lord (Glorified and Exalted is He) stated in Surat al-Ma'idah in His saying:
Allah will not impose blame upon you for what is meaningless in your oaths, but He will impose blame upon you for [breaking] what you intended of oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of ten needy people from the average of that which you feed your [own] families or clothing them or the freeing of a slave. But whoever cannot find [or afford it] - then a fast of three days [is required]. That is the expiation for oaths when you have sworn. But guard your oaths. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be grateful.
لاَ يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَكِنْ يُؤَاخِذُكُمْ بِمَا عَقَّدْتُمُ الأَيْمَانَ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْ وَاحْفَظُوا أَيْمَانَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَAnd success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.