I vowed to fast for a very long period, so what should I do?
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The questioner : This questioner says, "I vowed to fast for a very long period, so what should I do about that?"
The Shaykh : We must know the nature of the vow.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Is it a vow of worship or a vow of an oath, which scholars call a vow of contention or anger? A vow of worship is when a person says, "I have a vow upon me to fast... for ten days, for example, as an act of worship and obedience to Allah," or he says, "If Allah heals my sick person, I have a vow upon me to fast ten days." In this case, he must fulfill the vow, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)Sahih al-Bukhari 6696.
However, if it is a vow of an oath, meaning he intended the meaning of an oath by saying, "If I do such and such, I have a vow upon me to fast ten days," intending thereby to firmly prevent himself from this action, then its ruling is the ruling of an oath. That is, he is given the choice: if he wishes, he does what he vowed, and if he wishes, he leaves it and expiates with the expiation of an oath. The expiation of an oath is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. Whoever cannot find the means to do so must fast for three days. This is the answer to the question. Let the questioner be aware that there is a difference between a vow of devotion and obedience, and a vow of an oath intended for prevention, encouragement, affirmation, or denial. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : We must know the nature of the vow.
The questioner : Yes, Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Is it a vow of worship or a vow of an oath, which scholars call a vow of contention or anger? A vow of worship is when a person says, "I have a vow upon me to fast... for ten days, for example, as an act of worship and obedience to Allah," or he says, "If Allah heals my sick person, I have a vow upon me to fast ten days." In this case, he must fulfill the vow, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
Whoever vows that he will be obedient to Allah, should remain obedient to Him
من نذر أن يُطيع الله فليطعهHowever, if it is a vow of an oath, meaning he intended the meaning of an oath by saying, "If I do such and such, I have a vow upon me to fast ten days," intending thereby to firmly prevent himself from this action, then its ruling is the ruling of an oath. That is, he is given the choice: if he wishes, he does what he vowed, and if he wishes, he leaves it and expiates with the expiation of an oath. The expiation of an oath is feeding ten poor people, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. Whoever cannot find the means to do so must fast for three days. This is the answer to the question. Let the questioner be aware that there is a difference between a vow of devotion and obedience, and a vow of an oath intended for prevention, encouragement, affirmation, or denial. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.