He says: I inform you that an accident happened to me at night, and I was admitted to the hospital. So I made a vow that I would not travel at night, only during the day. And when I recovered...
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The questioner : He says: I inform you that an accident happened to me at night, and I was admitted to the hospital. So I made a vow that I would not travel at night, only during the day. And when I recovered, praise and thanks be to Allah, circumstances forced me to travel at night. I ask for your guidance on this matter and what is the expiation that you advise us to perform, considering that I am a business owner and work or duty may force me to do what I mentioned. May Allah guide you?
The Shaykh : We say: First, it is not befitting for a believer to make a vow, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade making vows and said:Sunan an-Nasa'i 3801Sahih (Darussalam) It is regrettable that many people make vows when they suffer accidents, illnesses, ailments, or poverty. They vow to Allah the Exalted that if what they dislike is removed from them, they will do such and such, as if Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) does not bestow blessings upon them except on condition. This is, in reality, a defect and a shortcoming. What is befitting for a person, as long as Allah has granted him health from this vow that he binds himself to, is to praise Allah for the health and not to make a vow, especially since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has forbidden making vows.
As for your case, your vow has the ruling of an oath because it is a vow to abstain from a permissible act. So there is no harm in you traveling at night, and you must perform the expiation for an oath, which is freeing a slave, or feeding ten poor people, or clothing them. If you cannot find the means to do so, then fast for three days. It is well known that feeding ten poor people in our time is very easy, praise be to Allah. So you feed ten poor people, either by inviting them to your home to have lunch or dinner, or by giving them two sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of rice if the sa' in your area is like the sa' here in al-Qasim. Otherwise, the standard is two kilograms and forty grams of rice for every four poor people, which you give to the ten. It is good to include something with it to make it a meal, such as meat or otherwise. By doing this, your obligation is discharged.
The questioner : Thank you, may Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : We say: First, it is not befitting for a believer to make a vow, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade making vows and said:
They do not bring any good
إنه لا يأتي بخيرAs for your case, your vow has the ruling of an oath because it is a vow to abstain from a permissible act. So there is no harm in you traveling at night, and you must perform the expiation for an oath, which is freeing a slave, or feeding ten poor people, or clothing them. If you cannot find the means to do so, then fast for three days. It is well known that feeding ten poor people in our time is very easy, praise be to Allah. So you feed ten poor people, either by inviting them to your home to have lunch or dinner, or by giving them two sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of rice if the sa' in your area is like the sa' here in al-Qasim. Otherwise, the standard is two kilograms and forty grams of rice for every four poor people, which you give to the ten. It is good to include something with it to make it a meal, such as meat or otherwise. By doing this, your obligation is discharged.
The questioner : Thank you, may Allah reward you.