The ruling on one who made a vow and found fulfilling it difficult
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
This questioner is actually Egyptian; he sent a set of questions, writing them in his own style. He says: “Your Eminence! I was in a difficult situation last year at university regarding passing or failing, so I vowed that if I passed, I would fast every Thursday permanently. I passed—praise be to Allah—and I fasted for several years, but I was unable to continue for several reasons and circumstances, including illness. Is there a solution? Is there an expiation? Knowing that I cannot continue with this in the future, please guide us, Your Eminence.”
Answer:
It is obligatory for you to continue; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih al-Bukhari 6696 This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, narrated by al-Bukhari in the Sahih Sunan Ibn Majah 2126Sahih (Darussalam) In fact, it was narrated by Muslim in the Sahih.
The point is: that you must fulfill the vow. If you are completely unable, such that you cannot fast the vow, nor fast Ramadan, and you are unable once; then you owe the expiation of an oath for the vow you are unable to fulfill, as Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said and it is also narrated as marfu’:Sunan Abi Dawud 3322Da'if Marfu' (Al-Albani) As long as you are able to fast Ramadan; then you must fast the Thursday you vowed. And Allah says—(Exalted and Majestic is He): [al-Taghabun:16] And He says—(Exalted and Majestic is He): [al-Nisa:1] So whoever vows to obey Allah; he must obey Him, and he must fulfill the vow. And whoever vows to disobey Allah; he must not disobey Him. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
This questioner is actually Egyptian; he sent a set of questions, writing them in his own style. He says: “Your Eminence! I was in a difficult situation last year at university regarding passing or failing, so I vowed that if I passed, I would fast every Thursday permanently. I passed—praise be to Allah—and I fasted for several years, but I was unable to continue for several reasons and circumstances, including illness. Is there a solution? Is there an expiation? Knowing that I cannot continue with this in the future, please guide us, Your Eminence.”
Answer:
It is obligatory for you to continue; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever vows that he will be obedient to Allah, should remain obedient to Him
من نذر أن يطيع الله؛ فليطعهWhoever 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 يعصهThe point is: that you must fulfill the vow. If you are completely unable, such that you cannot fast the vow, nor fast Ramadan, and you are unable once; then you owe the expiation of an oath for the vow you are unable to fulfill, as Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said and it is also narrated as marfu’:
if anyone takes a vow he is unable to fulfill, its atonement is the same as that for an oath
من نذر نذرًا لا يطيقه؛ فكفارته كفارة يمينSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْO mankind, fear your Lord
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُThe presenter: May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.