What is the ruling on making a vow regarding a permissible matter, and what is the ruling on fulfilling it?

The questioner : There are questions about vows. Is it permissible to use the form of conditionality in a vow, such as saying, "If so-and-so returns from his trip, I will send a sheep to his house," when there is no act of obedience involved in this vow? What does it mean? What is the worship of Allah in sending a sheep to so-and-so for him to eat?

The Shaykh : Here is a topic that requires detailed discussion, even if only briefly. A vow is of two types: a vow of obedience and a vow of disobedience. It is obligatory to fulfill a vow of obedience, while it is not permissible to fulfill a vow of disobedience. A vow of obedience has two categories. The first is a vow of seeking reward and drawing near to Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He), and the second is a possible vow, which we call today a "barter" and which was formerly called a "vow of exchange." The first category, the vow of seeking reward, means drawing near to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by means of obedience, because one feels that one is lazy and that, if not bound by a vow, one might not be able to perform that act of worship. So one might say, for example, "I pledge to Allah that I will pray two rak'ahs between the midday and afternoon prayers every day". This is a vow of seeking reward and obedience, and it is obligatory to fulfill it. As for the vow of barter or exchange, which is the subject of the question, it is when someone says, "If so-and-so comes, I pledge to Allah to do such-and-such," or "If Allah grants me a son, I pledge to Allah to do such-and-such." This is a vow of exchange or barter, as if he is saying in the language of his situation, "O Lord, if You grant me my desire and spare my child, I will slaughter a ram for You; but if You do not grant me my desire, I will not slaughter anything for You." This is undoubtedly not prescribed in Islam; rather, explicit texts prohibit it, as stated by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Thus, the one who bargains with Allah and exchanges benefit with Him, saying, "If You spare my child, I pledge to do such-and-such," is not obligated to do such-and-such if He spares him. This is the stingy, miserly person. However, if he is noble in spirit, he offers charity in advance for his sick child, as mentioned in the hasan hadith from its various chains: Therefore, if the vow is a vow of barter, it is not prescribed to make it. But if one does make it, he is obligated to fulfill it because it is a vow of obedience. We are currently discussing the first category. A vow is of two types: obedience and disobedience. It is not permissible to fulfill a vow of disobedience. A vow of obedience has two categories: a vow of seeking reward, obedience, and increased nearness to Allah, which is obligatory to fulfill, as it is prescribed to make and vow it. As for the second type, the vow of exchange or barter, it is not prescribed to make it. However, if someone makes it, he is obligated to fulfill it because it is a vow of obedience. If this applies in all cases to any matter that is not described as disobedience, then the question that was asked undoubtedly falls either under a vow of obedience or a vow of disobedience. But he mentions it under the second category of a vow of obedience, which is a vow of exchange or barter, so it is obligatory to fulfill it, though it is not good to make it.