My mother was ill with me, and she passed away two years ago, so I vowed that if Allah granted me from His abundant bounty, I would give in charity a sacrificial animal in the month of Ramadan of that year
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Question: My mother was ill with me, and she passed away two years ago, so I vowed that if Allah granted me from His abundant bounty, I would give in charity a sacrificial animal in the month of Ramadan of that year, and I would dedicate its reward to my mother. I work in one of the schools and receive a monthly salary of five thousand riyals, but I give it to my husband, who is in need, has a large family, and has a low income. He has built us a house and taken on many debts to people, so I help him with my monthly salary. I was unable to fulfill my vow that year, but I used to give my sister one thousand riyals from the salary to give in charity to the poor, and I counted the reward of this charity for my mother. Does this suffice for the vow, or must I give in charity a sacrificial animal as I specified, even after the year I designated for it has passed?
Answer: First: We point out that a Muslim should not make a vow;Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 3801Sahih (Darussalam) .
A Muslim should do good, give in charity, and draw near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) with what Allah has made easy, without a vow. But if he makes a vow and binds himself to it, he must fulfill it, if his vow is a vow of obedience,The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6696 ،And Allah the Exalted said: [al-Insan: 7] ,And Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah: 270] .
If a person makes a vow of obedience, he must fulfill it. The questioner mentions that she vowed to slaughter a sheep in a specific year and distribute it to the poor. This is a vow of obedience; because slaughtering the sheep is an act of drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and giving its meat in charity is also an act of drawing near to Him. She specified a particular time, and she was required to fulfill it at that time. Since she delayed it beyond its time, she must perform it as a make-up. She must slaughter what she vowed as an act of drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and give its meat in charity, and this will be the make-up. She also owes an oath expiation for the delay.
So she is required to do two things:
First: Performing the vow she made as a make-up.
Second: An oath expiation for delaying it beyond its time.
And the oath expiation,As Allah the Exalted said: [al-Ma'idah: 89] , this is the oath expiation.
As for her giving in charity and giving her sister money to give in charity, this does not suffice for the vow; because the vow is specific to a sacrificial animal, and it is not a general charity. So it does not suffice for the vow. Her charity that she mentioned has reward in it, and there is good in it if Allah wills, and we hope that its reward will reach the deceased, but it does not suffice for the vow. And Allah knows best.
Answer: First: We point out that a Muslim should not make a vow;Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
They do not bring any good; they are just a means of taking wealth from the miserly.
إن النذر لا يأتي بخير، إنما يستخرج به من البخيلA Muslim should do good, give in charity, and draw near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) with what Allah has made easy, without a vow. But if he makes a vow and binds himself to it, he must fulfill it, if his vow is a vow of obedience,The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever vows that he will be obedient to Allah, should remain obedient to Him
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعهThey [are those who] fulfill [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread.
يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًاAnd whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vows - indeed, Allah knows of it
وَمَا أَنْفَقْتُمْ مِنْ نَفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُمْ مِنْ نَذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُهُIf a person makes a vow of obedience, he must fulfill it. The questioner mentions that she vowed to slaughter a sheep in a specific year and distribute it to the poor. This is a vow of obedience; because slaughtering the sheep is an act of drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and giving its meat in charity is also an act of drawing near to Him. She specified a particular time, and she was required to fulfill it at that time. Since she delayed it beyond its time, she must perform it as a make-up. She must slaughter what she vowed as an act of drawing near to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), and give its meat in charity, and this will be the make-up. She also owes an oath expiation for the delay.
So she is required to do two things:
First: Performing the vow she made as a make-up.
Second: An oath expiation for delaying it beyond its time.
And the oath expiation,As Allah the Exalted said:
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
فَكَفَّارَتُهُ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَاكِينَ مِنْ أَوْسَطِ مَا تُطْعِمُونَ أَهْلِيكُمْ أَوْ كِسْوَتُهُمْ أَوْ تَحْرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ فَمَنْ لَمْ يَجِدْ فَصِيَامُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ذَلِكَ كَفَّارَةُ أَيْمَانِكُمْ إِذَا حَلَفْتُمْAs for her giving in charity and giving her sister money to give in charity, this does not suffice for the vow; because the vow is specific to a sacrificial animal, and it is not a general charity. So it does not suffice for the vow. Her charity that she mentioned has reward in it, and there is good in it if Allah wills, and we hope that its reward will reach the deceased, but it does not suffice for the vow. And Allah knows best.