A vow of obedience must be fulfilled

Question:
From Sudan, Abu Anas says: A person made a vow to Allah to draw near to Him with a specific offering if a certain thing is realized for him under its conditions. The question is: Is it permissible to withdraw from what he vowed to do before the condition is fulfilled?

Answer:
Once a vow is made, it is obligatory to fulfill it, whether it is fasting, prayer, or charity, if the condition upon which the vow was contingent is met. One does not have the right to retract it; rather, it is binding. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If he says, “If Allah heals my sick person, I will fast for a month,” or “I will give such-and-such in charity,” or says, “It is upon me for Allah that if a child is born to me, I will give such-and-such in charity,” or “I will fast such-and-such,” it is binding on him when the condition is met. Or if he says, “It is upon me for Allah that if Allah enables me to perform Hajj and I do perform it, I will give such-and-such in charity,” or “I will fast such-and-such,” likewise.
The point is the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): If one makes a vow that is in accordance with the Shari'ah, it is obligatory to fulfill it.
As for a vow that is not in accordance with the Shari'ah, one must expiate it with the expiation for an oath. For example, if he says, “It is upon me for Allah that if a child is born to me, I will drink intoxicants,” or “I will disobey Allah by doing such-and-such,” or “such-and-such,” this is not permissible. Or if he says, “It is upon me for Allah that if Allah grants him such-and-such, he will do what Allah has forbidden from the other sins,” he must expiate it with the expiation for an oath. Or if it is something permissible, such as saying, “If Allah heals my sick person, I will move from such-and-such house to such-and-such house,” this is a permissible matter; he may move or he may not move; he must expiate it with the expiation for an oath if it becomes a permissible matter that is not an act of worship and not an act of obedience.
In summary: If the vow is an act of obedience, it is obligatory to fulfill it. If it is a permissible matter, he is given the choice: if he wishes, he fulfills it, and if he wishes, he expiates his oath.
As for if it is a sin, he does not have the right to commit the sin; rather, he must expiate it with the expiation for an oath. For example, if he says, “If Allah heals my sick person, I will do what Allah has forbidden,” such as engaging in usury or interest, committing unlawful sexual intercourse, stealing, or backbiting so-and-so, he must expiate it with the expiation for an oath and not disobey Allah. Yes.

The presenter: May Allah reward you.