The Ruling on Vows, and an Explanation of Some of Their Rulings
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Question:
Please guide me—may Allah reward you with good—to the correct manner of making a vow so that I may be clear about my affair?
Answer:
It is not recommended to make a vow; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade vows and said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3426 Therefore, one should not make a vow. However, if a person makes a vow to obey Allah, it is obligatory for him to fulfill it, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 2126Sahih (Darussalam) Also, Allah praised those who fulfill their vows in the description of the righteous, saying the Exalted: [Al-Insan:7].
These are vows of obedience. It is obligatory for the one who makes a vow of obedience to fulfill it, and he is praised for fulfilling it. For example, if he vows to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, or to fast three days of every month, or to fast six days of Shawwal, this is a vow of obedience that he must fulfill. Or if he vows to give charity of a certain amount of money, or vows to perform Hajj, or 'Umrah, all these are vows of obedience; so he must fulfill them.
As for if the one who makes a vow vows to commit a sin, such as saying: "It is upon me for Allah that I drink intoxicants," or "It is upon me for Allah that I cut off my family ties" or "I undutifully treat my parents," this is a blameworthy vow. He is not to fulfill it, and he must pay the expiation for an oath. Likewise, if he makes other vows that are disliked or permissible: if he fulfills them, there is no harm; otherwise, he must pay the expiation for an oath.
For example, if he vows to Allah that he will not pray the Sunnah of the midday prayer, or the Sunnah of the dawn prayer on a specific day, this is a disliked vow. He should pray it and pay the expiation for his oath. If he does not pray it, there is no expiation on him because it is a voluntary prayer. Or if he makes a permissible vow, such as saying: "It is upon me for Allah that I eat so-and-so's food," or "It is upon me for Allah that I do not eat so-and-so's food." This is a permissible vow. If he eats the food he vowed not to eat, he must pay the expiation for an oath. If he does not eat, and he had vowed to eat, he must pay the expiation for an oath, because these are permissible vows. Or if he says: "It is upon me for Allah that I visit so-and-so," or "It is upon me for Allah that—for example—I do not visit so-and-so." If he goes against his vow, he must pay the expiation for an oath. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with good.
Please guide me—may Allah reward you with good—to the correct manner of making a vow so that I may be clear about my affair?
Answer:
It is not recommended to make a vow; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade vows and said:
Do not make vows, for a vow has no effect against fate; it is only from the miserly that it is a means by which something is extracted.
لا تنذروا فإن النذر لا يرد من قدر الله شيئًا، وإنما يستخرج به من البخيلWhoever 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 يعصهThey [are those who] fulfill [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread.
يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًاThese are vows of obedience. It is obligatory for the one who makes a vow of obedience to fulfill it, and he is praised for fulfilling it. For example, if he vows to fast on Mondays and Thursdays, or to fast three days of every month, or to fast six days of Shawwal, this is a vow of obedience that he must fulfill. Or if he vows to give charity of a certain amount of money, or vows to perform Hajj, or 'Umrah, all these are vows of obedience; so he must fulfill them.
As for if the one who makes a vow vows to commit a sin, such as saying: "It is upon me for Allah that I drink intoxicants," or "It is upon me for Allah that I cut off my family ties" or "I undutifully treat my parents," this is a blameworthy vow. He is not to fulfill it, and he must pay the expiation for an oath. Likewise, if he makes other vows that are disliked or permissible: if he fulfills them, there is no harm; otherwise, he must pay the expiation for an oath.
For example, if he vows to Allah that he will not pray the Sunnah of the midday prayer, or the Sunnah of the dawn prayer on a specific day, this is a disliked vow. He should pray it and pay the expiation for his oath. If he does not pray it, there is no expiation on him because it is a voluntary prayer. Or if he makes a permissible vow, such as saying: "It is upon me for Allah that I eat so-and-so's food," or "It is upon me for Allah that I do not eat so-and-so's food." This is a permissible vow. If he eats the food he vowed not to eat, he must pay the expiation for an oath. If he does not eat, and he had vowed to eat, he must pay the expiation for an oath, because these are permissible vows. Or if he says: "It is upon me for Allah that I visit so-and-so," or "It is upon me for Allah that—for example—I do not visit so-and-so." If he goes against his vow, he must pay the expiation for an oath. Yes.
The presenter : May Allah bless you, and may Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.