A vow (Nazar) is only valid when it is made with the intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure; therefore, it is necessary that a vow be a means of closeness to Allah, and a vow for disobedience to Allah is not permissible.
Linguistic Explanation: The word نذر is a verbal noun from the root نَذَرَ يَنذِرُ (Nasr, Darb). Its meaning is “to vow and to make something not obligatory upon oneself obligatory.”
[Al-Mu’jam Al-Waseet: p. 912, Al-Munjid: p. 883, Lisan Al-Arab: 100/14]
Technical Definition: Making a commitment to perform a good deed is called a vow (Nazar).
[Al-Fiqh Al-Islami wa Adillatuhu: 2552/4]
Legitimacy:
Its evidences are as follows:
➊ Allah Almighty says:
يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ [Al-Dahr: 7]
“(The believers) fulfill their vows.”
➋ In another verse, it is stated:
وَلْيُوفُوا نُذُورَهُمْ [Al-Hajj: 29]
“They should fulfill their vows.”
➌ In the first verse of Surah Al-Ma’idah, it is stated:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ [Al-Ma’idah: 1]
“O you who believe! Fulfill your commitments.”
➍ In another verse, the command to fulfill promises is given:
وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ ۖ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُولًا [Al-Isra: 34]
“And fulfill the covenant; indeed, the covenant will be questioned about.”
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
من نذر أن يطيع الله فليطعه ومن نذر أن يعصيه فلا يعصه
“Whoever makes a vow in obedience to Allah should fulfill it, and whoever makes a vow for disobedience should not disobey.”
[Bukhari: 6696, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Al-Nazr fi Al-Ta’ah, Muwatta: 476/2, Ahmad: 36/6, Abu Dawood: 3289, Tirmidhi: 1526, Nasa’i: 17/7, Ibn Majah: 2126, Bayhaqi: 68/10]
The following hadith apparently seems contradictory to the previous one:
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (RA) that:
نهى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عن النذر ، قال: إنه لا يرد شيئا ، إنما يستخرج به من البخيل
“The Prophet (PBUH) forbade vows and said that vows do not bring anything back; rather, they only extract wealth from the miser.”
[Bukhari: 6608, Kitab Al-Qadr: Bab Ilqa’ Al-Abd Al-Nazr ila Al-Qadr, Abu Dawood: 3287, Nasa’i: 3801, Ibn Majah: 2122]
The application of these hadiths is explained as follows: It is not permissible to make a vow involving wealth, but making a vow for other good deeds such as prayer, fasting, etc., is correct and fulfilling it brings reward and blessings, as explained by Imam Tabari (RA) regarding the verse:
يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ [Al-Dahr: 7]
[For more details see: Fath Al-Bari: 585/11 – 589, Subul Al-Salam: 1898/4, Qafr Al-Athar: 1716/5 – 1718]
(Shafi’i, Malik, Ahmad) consider making vows disliked because the Prophet (PBUH) forbade it.
[Mughni Al-Muhtaj: 454/4, Al-Mughni: 621/13, Subul Al-Salam: 1898/4]
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
لا نذر فى معصية
“A vow is not permissible in disobedient acts.”
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood: 2816, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Man Ra’a ‘alayhi Kaffarah Idha Kana fi Ma’siyah, Abu Dawood: 3290, Tirmidhi: 1524, Ahmad: 247/6, Irwa’ Al-Ghalil: 2590]
One form of a vow of disobedience is not treating children equally or violating Shariah by altering the rights of heirs, as the Prophet (PBUH) commanded Hazrat Nu’man bin Bashir’s father:
اتقوا الله واعدلوا بين أولادكم
“Fear Allah and be just among your children.”
[Bukhari: 2586, Kitab Al-Hibah wa Fadliha: Bab Al-Hibah lil-Walad, Muslim: 1623, Ahmad: 268/4, Muwatta: 751/2, Tirmidhi: 1367, Ibn Majah: 3376]
Because it is against Shariah, such a vow is a vow of disobedience, and the Prophet (PBUH) forbade vows of disobedience as previously mentioned; therefore, any such vow is invalid and prohibited.
One form of this is making vows at graves, and making vows for such acts is also disobedience which Allah Almighty has not permitted.
Making vows at graves is prohibited because it raises false beliefs among the public, such as venerating the owner of the grave and glorifying them, which is disobedience and rebellion.
As Hazrat Aisha (RA) said about a person who gave all his inheritance as a gift to the Kaaba instead of distributing it:
يكفر عن اليمين
“He should pay the expiation for the oath.”
[Muwatta: 481/2, Bayhaqi: 65/10, Talkhis Al-Habeer: 176/4]
If it is not permissible for the House of Allah, then it is even more forbidden for shrines, mausoleums, sanctuaries, and graves.
[Al-Rawdah Al-Nadiyyah: 370/2]
Making vows for drinking wine, unlawful killing, cursing, unjust beating, decorating mosques, and for sinners so that they become more entrenched in sins, and other such unlawful acts is not permissible because all these are acts of disobedience and rebellion, and authentic hadiths mentioned earlier prove that vows of disobedience are not permissible.
Whoever makes obligatory upon himself an act that Allah has not legislated is not bound to it, and similarly, if the act is permissible but the person making the vow is not capable of it, then it is also not obligatory.
Once the Prophet (PBUH) was delivering a sermon when a man was standing (in the sun). The Prophet (PBUH) asked the companions about him, and they replied that he (Abu Isra’il) had vowed to stand in the sun, neither sit nor come into the shade, nor speak to anyone, and fast. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
مروه ليتكلم وليستظل وليقعد وليتم صومه
“Tell him to speak, come into the shade, sit down, but complete his fast.”
In one narration, it is stated:
إنما النذر فيما ابتغي به وجه الله
“A vow is only for that act through which Allah’s pleasure is sought.”
[Bukhari: 6704, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Al-Nazr Fima La Yamlik wa Fi Ma’siyah, Abu Dawood: 3300, Ibn Majah: 2136, Dar Qutni: 160/4, Bayhaqi: 75/10, Sharh Al-Sunnah: 24/10]
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) saw an old man walking with support between his sons’ shoulders. The Prophet (PBUH) inquired about him, and Hazrat Anas (RA) said he had vowed to walk on foot. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
إن الله تعالى عن تعذيب هذا نفسه لغنى وأمره أن يركب
“Allah is free from punishing anyone by his own self.” Then the Prophet (PBUH) ordered him to ride.
One narration clarifies that this old man had vowed to walk on foot to the House of Allah.
[Bukhari: 1865, 6701, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Al-Nazr Fima La Yamlik wa Fi Ma’siyah, Ahmad: 114/3 – 118, Abu Dawood: 3301, Tirmidhi: 1537, Nasa’i: 3852 – 3853, Bayhaqi: 78/10]
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (RA) that a woman vowed to walk on foot to the House of Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) was asked about her, and he said:
إن الله لغنى عن مشيها ، مروها فلتر كب
“Allah is not concerned with her walking; tell her to ride.”
[Sahih: Sahih Tirmidhi: Kitab Al-Nudhur wal-Ayman: Bab Ma Ja’a Fiman Yahlif bil-Mashi wa La Yastati’, Tirmidhi: 1536]
Whoever makes a vow for an unspecified or disobedient act or an act beyond his capacity must pay the expiation for breaking the oath.
➊ As for the one who dedicated all his inheritance to the Kaaba, Hazrat Aisha (RA) said:
يكفر عن اليمين
“He should pay the expiation for the oath.”
[Bayhaqi: 65/1]
➋ It is narrated from Hazrat Uqbah bin Amir (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
كفارة الـنـذر كفارة اليمين
“Your vow’s expiation is the same as the expiation for breaking an oath.”
[Muslim: 1645, Kitab Al-Nudhur: Bab Fi Kaffarat Al-Nazr, Abu Dawood: 3324, Nasa’i: 26/7, Ahmad: 144/4]
➌ In another narration, the Prophet (PBUH) said:
لا نذر فى معصية و كفارته كفارة يمين
“A vow for disobedient acts is not permissible, and its expiation is the same as the expiation for breaking an oath.”
[Sahih: Irwa’ Al-Ghalil: 2590, Abu Dawood: 3290, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Man Ra’a ‘alayhi Kaffarah Idha Kana fi Ma’siyah, Tirmidhi: 1524, Nasa’i: 3834, Ibn Majah: 2125, Ahmad: 247/6]
(Abu Hanifa, Shafi’i) say that such a person should slaughter a goat as expiation.
[Bada’i Al-Sana’i: 84/5, Bidayat Al-Mujtahid: 411/1, Mughni Al-Muhtaj: 363/4, Al-Muhadhdhab: 245/1]
(The preferred view) is the one stated in the previous hadiths; therefore, one should act accordingly and pay the expiation for breaking the oath.
Whoever made a vow in a state of disbelief for a good deed and then became Muslim must fulfill the vow.
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (RA) that Umar (RA) asked the Prophet (PBUH) about a vow he made in the pre-Islamic period to perform i’tikaf for one night in Masjid al-Haram. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
أوف بنذرك
“Fulfill your vow.”
[Bukhari: 2032, Kitab Al-I’tikaf: Bab Al-I’tikaf Laylan, Muslim: 1656, Abu Dawood: 3325, Tirmidhi: 1539, Nasa’i: 3820, Ibn Majah: 2129, Ahmad: 37/1, Humaydi: 304/2, Bayhaqi: 318/4, Darimi: 183/2]
➋ The father of Maymunah bint Kharijah said he had vowed to slaughter a camel at Buwana. The Prophet (PBUH) asked if there was any idol or tyrant there; he said no. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
أوف بنذرك
“Fulfill your vow.”
[Sahih: Sahih Ibn Majah: 1733, Kitab Al-Kaffarat: Bab Al-Wafa’ bil-Nazr, Ibn Majah: 2131, Al-Fath Al-Rabbani: 183/14]
A vow is fulfilled only from one-third of the inheritance, and if the person who made the vow dies, and his children fulfill it on his behalf, it suffices.
Hazrat Ka’b bin Malik (RA) said to the Prophet (PBUH) that part of his repentance was to give charity from his wealth for Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
أمسلك عليك بعض مالك فهو خير لك
“Keep some of your wealth with yourself; that is better for you.”
[Bukhari: 6690, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Idha Ahda Malahu ‘ala Wajh Al-Nazr wal-Tawbah, Muslim: 2769]
In one narration, Hazrat Ka’b (RA) said that part of his repentance was to give all his wealth as charity for Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “No.” Then he said, “Shall I give half?” The Prophet said: “No.” Then he said, “Shall I give one-third?” The Prophet said:
نعم
“Yes.”
[Hasan Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood: 2842, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Man Nazar An Yatasadaqa Bimalihi, Abu Dawood: 3321]
➊ It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (RA) that a man asked the Prophet (PBUH) about his deceased sister who had vowed to perform Hajj. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
لو كان عليها دين أكنت قاضيه؟
“If she had a debt, would you pay it?” He said, “Yes.” The Prophet said:
فاقض الله فهو أحق بالقضاء
“Pay Allah as He is more deserving of being paid.”
[Bukhari: 6699, Kitab Al-Aiman wal-Nudhur: Bab Man Mata wa ‘alayhi Nazr, Muslim: 1638]
➋ Hazrat Sa’d bin Ubadah (RA) sought a ruling from the Prophet (PBUH) about a vow his mother had made but died before fulfilling it. The Prophet (PBUH) ruled that he should fulfill it on behalf of his deceased mother.
[Bukhari: 6698, also]
➌ Hazrat Ibn Umar (RA) also ordered a woman to pray in Masjid Quba whose mother had vowed before her death.
[Bukhari: before hadith/6698, also]
