Written by: Maulana Abu al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
Question:
Is it necessary to fulfill a vow that is beyond one's capacity?
Answer:
If a person makes a vow that they do not have the capacity to fulfill, and they are unable to complete it, then it is not permissible for them to fulfill such a vow.
❀ It is narrated by Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) saw an old man being supported by his two sons while walking. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, 'What is the matter with this man?' They replied, 'He has vowed to walk (to the Ka'bah).' The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Allah is not in need of this man punishing himself,' and he ordered him to ride."[Bukhari, Book of Hunting, Slaughtering: Chapter on One Who Vows to Walk to the Ka'bah, Hadith 1865, 6701; Muslim 1242; Musnad Ahmad 3/114; Abu Dawood 3301; Tirmidhi 1537; Nasa'i 3883; Ibn Jarud 939; Bayhaqi 10/78]
❀ In Sunan Nasa'i, it is mentioned:
"He vowed to walk to the House of Allah."[Nasa'i, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on What Is Obligatory on One Who Obligates a Vow Upon Himself and Is Unable to Fulfill It, Hadith 3883]
❀ In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever makes a vow without naming it, its expiation is the expiation for an oath. Whoever makes a vow to commit a sin, its expiation is the expiation for an oath. And whoever makes a vow that he cannot fulfill, its expiation is the expiation for an oath."[Abu Dawood, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on One Who Vows What He Cannot Fulfill, Hadith 3322]
❀ Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered a woman who had vowed to walk (but was unable to fulfill it) to give expiation.
[Abu Dawood, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on One Who Sees That Expiation Is Due If It Was for a Sin, Hadith 3296; Al-Fath al-Rabbani 4/188]
From the above-mentioned Hadiths, it is clear that if a man or woman makes a vow that they do not have the strength to fulfill, they should give the expiation of an oath. It is not permissible for them to fulfill such a vow. The expiation for an oath is to feed ten poor people with the average food that one provides for their own family, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. If one cannot afford this, then they must fast for three days.
[Al-Ma'idah: 89]
Question:
Is it necessary to fulfill a vow that is beyond one's capacity?
Answer:
If a person makes a vow that they do not have the capacity to fulfill, and they are unable to complete it, then it is not permissible for them to fulfill such a vow.
❀ It is narrated by Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him):
"The Prophet (peace be upon him) saw an old man being supported by his two sons while walking. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, 'What is the matter with this man?' They replied, 'He has vowed to walk (to the Ka'bah).' The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'Allah is not in need of this man punishing himself,' and he ordered him to ride."[Bukhari, Book of Hunting, Slaughtering: Chapter on One Who Vows to Walk to the Ka'bah, Hadith 1865, 6701; Muslim 1242; Musnad Ahmad 3/114; Abu Dawood 3301; Tirmidhi 1537; Nasa'i 3883; Ibn Jarud 939; Bayhaqi 10/78]
❀ In Sunan Nasa'i, it is mentioned:
"He vowed to walk to the House of Allah."[Nasa'i, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on What Is Obligatory on One Who Obligates a Vow Upon Himself and Is Unable to Fulfill It, Hadith 3883]
❀ In another narration, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Whoever makes a vow without naming it, its expiation is the expiation for an oath. Whoever makes a vow to commit a sin, its expiation is the expiation for an oath. And whoever makes a vow that he cannot fulfill, its expiation is the expiation for an oath."[Abu Dawood, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on One Who Vows What He Cannot Fulfill, Hadith 3322]
❀ Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered a woman who had vowed to walk (but was unable to fulfill it) to give expiation.
[Abu Dawood, Book of Oaths and Vows: Chapter on One Who Sees That Expiation Is Due If It Was for a Sin, Hadith 3296; Al-Fath al-Rabbani 4/188]
From the above-mentioned Hadiths, it is clear that if a man or woman makes a vow that they do not have the strength to fulfill, they should give the expiation of an oath. It is not permissible for them to fulfill such a vow. The expiation for an oath is to feed ten poor people with the average food that one provides for their own family, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. If one cannot afford this, then they must fast for three days.
[Al-Ma'idah: 89]