A woman vowed to fast on Mondays and Thursdays permanently, then became unable to do so due to illness. Is she required to pay an expiation, and is it valid for her son to pay it on her behalf?

The questioner : The honorable Shaykh says: My mother vowed to fast on Mondays and Thursdays for the rest of her life. She has been afflicted with many illnesses, requiring her to take medication, and she is unable to fast. Does she have to pay an expiation? And is it valid for me to pay the expiation on her behalf?

The Shaykh : First: We must know that making a vow is disliked. It is disliked for a person to say, "I have a vow upon me to fast" or "to pray," whether the vow is absolute or conditional. That is, whether he says from the outset, "I have a vow upon me to pray or fast," or he says, "If Allah grants me health, I have a vow upon me to fast." All of this is disliked and prohibited. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited making vows and said: and . Therefore, how often the one who makes a vow regrets it when he has made it. You find it difficult for him to do what he vowed. Then he goes to the scholars, at the doorstep of every scholar, to try to get rid of this vow. So first: I warn you against making vows. In fact, I convey to you the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding vows, so do not make vows, because they do not bring good and they do not avert divine decree. If Allah wills for a person to be healed, he will be healed without a vow. And if Allah wills for a person not to be healed, he will not be healed even if the person makes a vow. As for the answer to this question, we say: It is obligatory for this woman to fast every Monday and Thursday, because that is an act of obedience, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said: . And if she is unable to fast, it is obligatory for her to feed one poor person for every day.