The Background of Vows in the Age of Ignorance (
Source: Fatāwā Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه said:
إنه قال: يا رسول الله إني نذرت فى الجاهلية أن أعتكف ليلة فى المسجد الحرام، فقال له: أوف بنذرك
“O Messenger of Allah! I had vowed in the pre-Islamic period of ignorance to perform iʿtikāf for one night in al-Masjid al-Ḥarām.” The Prophet ﷺ said to him: “Fulfil your vow.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 6697, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 1656, Al-Muntaqā Ibn al-Jārūd: 941)
The question arises: ʿUmar رضي الله عنه was a disbeliever at that time — so what validity does a vow made in disbelief have? Why should such a vow be fulfilled?
❖ Answer:
The scholars differed on fulfilling vows made in a state of disbelief. The correct opinion is that:
- If the vow made during disbelief conforms to Islamic teachings, then it may be fulfilled after accepting Islam.
- If the vow contradicts Islamic teachings — such as dedicating something to an idol — then it cannot be fulfilled, since this would be a sinful vow.
✿ Evidence
✔ Narration of Thābit ibn Ḍaḥḥāk رضي الله عنه:
نذر رجل على عهد رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن ينحر إبلا ببوانة…
“A man made a vow during the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to sacrifice camels at a place called Buwānah. He came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: I have vowed to slaughter camels at Buwānah. The Prophet ﷺ asked: Was there any idol there from the idols of Jāhiliyyah that was worshipped? They said: No. He asked: Was there any festival of theirs celebrated there? They said: No. The Prophet ﷺ then said: Fulfil your vow, for there is no fulfilment of a vow that involves disobedience to Allah.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 3313, Al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr al-Ṭabarānī: 2/75-76 – chain authentic)
Conclusion:A vow made in Jāhiliyyah has no value if it involves disobedience or shirk. But if it is in line with Islamic teachings, such as iʿtikāf in al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, then it is valid and should be fulfilled after accepting Islam.
