Is it permissible to switch from fasting a vow to giving charity if fasting becomes difficult?
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The questioner : My mother is advanced in age, and she had an accident about a year ago. After that, she made a vow, saying, "I vow to Allah that if He heals me, I will fast a full month." Now she is ill and old, with diabetes and high blood pressure. Should she fast this month, or should she give charity on its behalf?
The Shaykh : No, she should not give charity on its behalf. She must fast. Tell her that she is the one who obligated herself. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) forbade making vows. Some scholars even say that making a vow is forbidden. He forbade vows and said: He also said: Does Allah the Mighty and Majestic not heal you unless there is a condition? Answer.
The questioner : No, Allah is Generous and vast in His bounty.
The Shaykh : Who is asking?
The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : I am asking: Does Allah not heal you unless there is a condition?
The questioner : No, if Allah wills, He will heal him without a condition.
The Shaykh : Then why did this old woman attach a condition? Why did she attach a condition?
The questioner : She attached a condition, saying, "If Allah heals me, I will fast a full month."
The Shaykh : I say it was a mistake on her part. If Allah wants to heal her, she should ask Allah for healing from His bounty, whether she made a vow or not. First, stop her from making vows and stop others from making vows. Tell her that what Allah has written is going to happen, and she is obligated to fast a month. Now, there are two months between us and Ramadan. She can start, if Allah wills, from the beginning of Rajab. The days are getting shorter now, and the cold has also set in. She should seek help from Allah and fast.
The questioner : She has diabetes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Does she fast Ramadan?
The questioner : Yes, she fasts it.
The Shaykh : Then this is the same as it. The vow is obligatory, so she must fast. If she wishes, she can fast in Rajab, and if she wishes, she can fast in Sha'ban, and if she wishes, from the middle of Rajab to the middle of Sha'ban. It is obligatory.
The questioner : May Allah forgive your sin, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Amen.
The Shaykh : No, she should not give charity on its behalf. She must fast. Tell her that she is the one who obligated herself. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) forbade making vows. Some scholars even say that making a vow is forbidden. He forbade vows and said:
It does not bring good
إنه لا يأت بخيرIt does not avert divine decree
إنه لا يرد قضاءThe questioner : No, Allah is Generous and vast in His bounty.
The Shaykh : Who is asking?
The questioner : Yes, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : I am asking: Does Allah not heal you unless there is a condition?
The questioner : No, if Allah wills, He will heal him without a condition.
The Shaykh : Then why did this old woman attach a condition? Why did she attach a condition?
The questioner : She attached a condition, saying, "If Allah heals me, I will fast a full month."
The Shaykh : I say it was a mistake on her part. If Allah wants to heal her, she should ask Allah for healing from His bounty, whether she made a vow or not. First, stop her from making vows and stop others from making vows. Tell her that what Allah has written is going to happen, and she is obligated to fast a month. Now, there are two months between us and Ramadan. She can start, if Allah wills, from the beginning of Rajab. The days are getting shorter now, and the cold has also set in. She should seek help from Allah and fast.
The questioner : She has diabetes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Does she fast Ramadan?
The questioner : Yes, she fasts it.
The Shaykh : Then this is the same as it. The vow is obligatory, so she must fast. If she wishes, she can fast in Rajab, and if she wishes, she can fast in Sha'ban, and if she wishes, from the middle of Rajab to the middle of Sha'ban. It is obligatory.
The questioner : May Allah forgive your sin, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Amen.