The Ruling on Fulfilling a Vow for One Who Is Incapable
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My mother is elderly. She was in an accident a year ago,And after that, she made a vow and said: and she made a vow to Allah that if Allah heals me, I will fast a full month. Now she is ill and elderly, and she has diabetes and high blood pressure. Should she fast the month, or give charity on its behalf?The Shaykh: She should not give charity on its behalf.She must fast, and it should be said to her: You are the one who made the vow. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited making vows, to the extent that some scholars said: Vows are forbidden,He prohibited making vows and said: (for they do not bring any good) and he said: (they do not avert destiny) And the Messenger (may Allah praise and bless him) spoke the truth: they do not bring any good and they do not avert destiny.
The questioner: Does Allah the Mighty and Majestic not heal you unless you attach a condition?The Shaykh: No, Allah heals without any condition.
The Shaykh: So why do you attach a condition?The questioner: She made the condition and said: If Allah heals me, I will fast a full month.
The Shaykh: I say: This is a mistake on her part. Allah will heal her if He has decreed healing for her, whether she made a vow or not.First: Forbid her from making vows, and forbid others from making vows. What Allah has written will come to pass. She is obligated to fast a month now. There are two months between us and Ramadan, so she should start, if Allah wills, from the beginning of Rajab. The days are short now and the cold has come upon us, so she should seek help from Allah and fast.
The questioner: But she is elderly. The Shaykh: Does she fast Ramadan?The questioner: Yes, she fasts Ramadan.
The Shaykh: So this is like it; it is a vow, and she must fast. If she wishes, she can fast in Rajab, if she wishes, she can fast in Sha'ban, or if she wishes, from the middle of Rajab to the middle of Sha'ban.
My mother is elderly. She was in an accident a year ago,And after that, she made a vow and said: and she made a vow to Allah that if Allah heals me, I will fast a full month. Now she is ill and elderly, and she has diabetes and high blood pressure. Should she fast the month, or give charity on its behalf?The Shaykh: She should not give charity on its behalf.She must fast, and it should be said to her: You are the one who made the vow. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited making vows, to the extent that some scholars said: Vows are forbidden,He prohibited making vows and said: (for they do not bring any good) and he said: (they do not avert destiny) And the Messenger (may Allah praise and bless him) spoke the truth: they do not bring any good and they do not avert destiny.
The questioner: Does Allah the Mighty and Majestic not heal you unless you attach a condition?The Shaykh: No, Allah heals without any condition.
The Shaykh: So why do you attach a condition?The questioner: She made the condition and said: If Allah heals me, I will fast a full month.
The Shaykh: I say: This is a mistake on her part. Allah will heal her if He has decreed healing for her, whether she made a vow or not.First: Forbid her from making vows, and forbid others from making vows. What Allah has written will come to pass. She is obligated to fast a month now. There are two months between us and Ramadan, so she should start, if Allah wills, from the beginning of Rajab. The days are short now and the cold has come upon us, so she should seek help from Allah and fast.
The questioner: But she is elderly. The Shaykh: Does she fast Ramadan?The questioner: Yes, she fasts Ramadan.
The Shaykh: So this is like it; it is a vow, and she must fast. If she wishes, she can fast in Rajab, if she wishes, she can fast in Sha'ban, or if she wishes, from the middle of Rajab to the middle of Sha'ban.