What is the ruling on making a vow for other than Allah?
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Question:
I encountered a problem, so I made a vow to one of the imams. I know that it is not permissible to make a vow for other than Allah, and the place where the imam is located is far from me. Is it permissible for me to pay this vow to the poor, or to expiate for it?
Answer:
This vow is invalid because it is worship of other than Allah. You must repent to Allah for that, return to Him, turn back to Him in repentance, seek forgiveness, and feel remorse. A vow is an act of worship. Allah the Exalted said: [al-Baqarah: 270]; meaning: He will reward you for it. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 2126Sahih (Darussalam)
So this vow is an invalid vow, and it is shirk (associating partners with Allah) , let alone that a vow made to one of the dead imams is an invalid vow and shirk (associating partners with Allah).
A vow is not permissible except for Allah alone, because it is an act of worship. Prayer, slaughter, vows, fasting, and supplication are all for Allah alone, as He said: : [al-Fatihah:5] And He the Exalted said: [al-Isra:23]; meaning He commanded that you not worship except Him. And He said: : [Ghafir:14], and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [al-Jinn:18].
So worship is the right of Allah alone, and a vow is worship, fasting is worship, prayer is worship, and supplication is worship. It is obligatory to make them sincere for Allah alone.
So this vow is invalid, and you owe nothing, neither to the poor nor to anyone else. Rather, you must repent, and you are not required to fulfill this vow because it is invalid and shirk (associating partners with Allah). You must have sincere repentance and do righteous deeds.
May Allah guide you and lead you to what pleases Him, and grant you sincere repentance.
I encountered a problem, so I made a vow to one of the imams. I know that it is not permissible to make a vow for other than Allah, and the place where the imam is located is far from me. Is it permissible for me to pay this vow to the poor, or to expiate for it?
Answer:
This vow is invalid because it is worship of other than Allah. You must repent to Allah for that, return to Him, turn back to Him in repentance, seek forgiveness, and feel remorse. A vow is an act of worship. Allah the Exalted said:
And whatever you spend of expenditures or make of vows - indeed, Allah knows of it
وَمَا أَنفَقْتُم مِّن نَّفَقَةٍ أَوْ نَذَرْتُم مِّن نَّذْرٍ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ يَعْلَمُهُWhoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him.
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه، ومن نذر أن يعصي الله فلا يعصهSo this vow is an invalid vow, and it is shirk (associating partners with Allah) , let alone that a vow made to one of the dead imams is an invalid vow and shirk (associating partners with Allah).
A vow is not permissible except for Allah alone, because it is an act of worship. Prayer, slaughter, vows, fasting, and supplication are all for Allah alone, as He said: :
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُAnd your Lord has decreed that you not worship except Him
وَقَضَى رَبُّكَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُSo invoke Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion, although the disbelievers dislike it.
فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَAnd [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone.
وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ أَحَدًاSo worship is the right of Allah alone, and a vow is worship, fasting is worship, prayer is worship, and supplication is worship. It is obligatory to make them sincere for Allah alone.
So this vow is invalid, and you owe nothing, neither to the poor nor to anyone else. Rather, you must repent, and you are not required to fulfill this vow because it is invalid and shirk (associating partners with Allah). You must have sincere repentance and do righteous deeds.
May Allah guide you and lead you to what pleases Him, and grant you sincere repentance.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.