Islamic Guidelines on Vows: Permissible and Prohibited Practices

Author: Umm Abdur Munib

Eligibility and Conditions for Making a Vow​

A vow (Nazr) is to obligate oneself to perform a non-obligatory act. Therefore, the conditions for eligibility to make a vow are the same as for a person obligated to perform worship, such as:

• Sanity
• Maturity
• Islam

If the vow is related to wealth, an additional condition is:

• Freedom – since a slave has no control over personal wealth.

Key Points:
① If a minor or mentally ill person makes a vow, it is not obligatory for them to fulfill it.
② A vow can be made through words that imply obligation, such as:

• "This task is obligatory on me for Allah’s sake."
• "I make a vow."
• "I promise Allah to perform a certain task."

Conditions of a Vow​

① The vowed task should be a voluntary or recommended act.
② The vowed task should not be an already obligatory act, like:

• The five obligatory prayers,
• Fasting during Ramadan,
• Serving one's parents, etc.
• ③ The vowed task should not be forbidden or prohibited in Islamic law.
• ④ One must have the ability and capacity to fulfill the vow.

A Vow is a Promise Made to Allah​

A vow is a solemn promise made to Allah, and therefore, fulfilling it is more important than other promises. While all promises must be honored, this one takes precedence.

Quranic Commandments:

• "O you who have believed, fulfill [all] contracts." [Surah Al-Ma'idah: 1]
• "And fulfill [every] covenant. Indeed, the covenant is ever [that about which one will be] questioned." [Surah Al-Isra: 34]

Since a vow inherently includes an oath to fulfill it, breaking it is a serious offense.

Consequences of Not Fulfilling a Vow​

Narrated from Sayyiduna Imran ibn Husayn (RA), the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"The best among you are those of my generation (the Sahabah), then those who follow (the Tabi'in), and then those who follow them (the Tabi Tabi'in)… then there will come people who will make vows and not fulfill them, they will be dishonest and will not be trustworthy, and they will bear witness without being asked to bear witness, and fatness will appear among them (due to consuming unlawful wealth)." [Bukhari]

Types of Vows: Obligatory or Voluntary​

Making a vow is a form of worship, similar to:

• Giving charity,
• Offering sacrifices,
• Observing voluntary fasts,
• Performing extra prayers.

Quranic Reference:

• "And whatever you spend in charity or whatever vow you make, surely Allah knows it well." [Surah Al-Baqarah: 270]

A vow itself is not obligatory, but once made, fulfilling it becomes obligatory.

Fulfillment of Vows:

• "They fulfill their vows." [Surah Ad-Dahr: 7]
• "Let them fulfill their vows." [Surah Al-Hajj: 29]

Making a Vow for an Already Obligatory Task​

Vowing to perform something already obligatory is invalid, such as:

• The five daily prayers,
• Fasting in Ramadan,
• Performing Hajj if capable,
• Paying Zakat.

This is because Allah is more entitled to declare an act obligatory than a person imposing it on themselves.

Capacity to Fulfill a Vow​

One should vow only to do something within their capacity. If a vow is made for something impossible or beyond one's ability, fulfilling it is not required. For instance, vowing to give away all one’s wealth in charity is not permissible or feasible, as it includes essential items like property, clothing, and money.

Sayyiduna Ka'b (RA) offered to donate all his wealth in gratitude for his repentance being accepted. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) advised him to keep some wealth for himself, which is better. [Bukhari, Muslim]

Making Vows for Prohibited Actions​

Narrated from Sayyidah Aisha (RA), the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Whoever makes a vow to obey Allah should obey Him, and whoever makes a vow to disobey Allah should not disobey Him."

[Bukhari, Abu Dawud]

Similarly, another narration tells of a man who vowed to perform Hajj on foot. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"Allah has no need for this man to torment himself."

[Bukhari, Abu Dawud]

Key Takeaways​

① Utilizing Allah’s blessings and then vowing to forbid them upon oneself is ingratitude.
② Only Allah has the authority to declare something prohibited.
③ It is impermissible to introduce new or altered methods in worship.
④ Modifying acts of worship is an innovation, leading towards misguidance.
⑤ Resembling monks or ascetics by adopting burdensome practices, such as:
⑥ Imitating disbelievers is forbidden.

• Standing under the sun,
• Avoiding shade,
• Undertaking rituals like long meditative seclusions,
• Performing Hajj on foot when transport is available, is prohibited.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: "Whoever imitates a people is one of them."

[Abu Dawud]

Prohibited Forms of Vows​

① Vowing or swearing to avoid speaking to someone.
② Vowing not to visit someone for condolence, visitation, or offering support.
③ Imitating animal-like behaviors, such as:

• Eating or drinking without using hands.
• Sitting in animal-like postures.
• Staying uncovered in public like animals.
• Urinating while standing (except in cases of necessity).

Vowing Over Something Not Owned​

Narration:
When the polytheists of Mecca seized the grazing animals near Madinah, they took the she-camel of the Prophet (ﷺ), named Udba, along with a Muslim woman. One night, Allah caused deep sleep to descend upon the captors. The woman, seeking escape, reached the camel, which remained silent and allowed her to mount. She vowed that if Allah granted her escape, she would sacrifice the camel. When she reached Madinah, the Prophet (ﷺ) was informed, and Udba was returned. Upon hearing her vow, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "She has given it a poor reward. Allah granted her deliverance through this camel, yet she intends to slaughter it. Vows are not valid in actions involving disobedience to Allah or in matters beyond one’s ownership." [Abu Dawud: 2316, Muslim: 1641]

Conclusion:
① Vowing over something not owned is not permissible.
② Items or beings that aid one in difficulty deserve appropriate gratitude, not harm or destruction.

Expiation for an Impermissible Vow​

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"There is no vow in disobedience, and its expiation is the same as that for breaking an oath."

[Abu Dawud: 3290, Tirmidhi: 1524, Ibn Majah: 2125]

Explanation:
A vow (Nazr) is a pledge made to Allah, obliging its fulfillment. Since an oath involves imposing a similar obligation on oneself, the rulings for fulfilling or nullifying both are alike. If one swears to perform a prohibited action or to abstain from a permissible one, it should not be fulfilled; instead, expiation should be given.

Types of Vows Made Before Islam or Knowledge of Islamic Law​

① Vows in Accordance with Islamic Law​

For example:

• Sayyiduna Umar (RA) said to the Prophet (ﷺ) that he had vowed to observe I'tikaf (spiritual retreat) for a night in the Sacred Mosque during the pre-Islamic period. The Prophet (ﷺ) instructed him to fulfill his vow. [Musnad Ahmad 27/1]

② Vows Without Elements of Disbelief, Association, or Disobedience​

Example:

• Maimuna bint Kathir’s father told the Prophet (ﷺ) of a vow to sacrifice a camel at a specific location. The Prophet (ﷺ) inquired if there was any idol worship associated with that place. Upon confirmation of its neutrality, the Prophet (ﷺ) permitted the fulfillment of the vow. [Sahih Ibn Majah: 1733]

Preferred Alternatives for Fulfilling a Vow​

Example:
During the conquest of Mecca, a man vowed to pray two units of prayer in Jerusalem if Allah granted victory to the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) suggested he offer his prayer at the Sacred Mosque in Mecca instead, which carries greater virtue. [Abu Dawud: 2305]

Warning Against Lower Standards in Fulfilling Vows​

Vows should not be substituted with a lesser standard than initially intended. For example:
① Vowing to sacrifice a goat but substituting it with a chicken.
② Pledging to distribute religious texts but instead providing secular educational materials.

Vows and Conditions Related to Making Vows in Islam​

Narration from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA):
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) conveyed Allah’s statement:

"The vow taken by the son of Adam is in his destiny; I have decreed it. It does not alter anything but merely serves to draw something out from a miser and makes them do something they would not otherwise do."

[Abu Dawud: 3288]

Narration from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (RA):

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:

"A vow does not return anything but merely extracts something from a miser."

[Bukhari: 2208, Abu Dawud: 3278, Ibn Majah: 2122]

This narration has led scholars to different views on monetary vows:
① Some scholars believe that monetary vows are not permissible and only vows involving bodily worship are allowed.
② Imams Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Malik (may Allah have mercy on them) consider monetary vows permissible but disliked.
③ Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf explains:

"This disapproval applies to vows taken conditionally, such as 'if my desire is fulfilled, I will give this much in charity.' Since whatever happens is already destined, it simply prompts a person who would not normally give for Allah’s sake to spend in a difficult time. Thus, it is not favored to link charitable spending with achieving one’s personal desires."

Recommended Approach: Immediate Payment Instead of Conditional Vows​

The preferred practice is that if a person seeks relief from Allah during times of distress, they should make the payment without attaching conditions and pray afterward, as is encouraged by prophetic teachings. Good deeds performed selflessly are more likely to lead to the acceptance of supplications, as in the example of the story of the people in the cave.

Fulfilling Vows on Behalf of a Deceased Person​

Example from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (RA):
A man asked about his deceased sister who had vowed to perform Hajj. The Prophet (ﷺ) responded:

"If she had a debt, would you not repay it?" The man replied affirmatively. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "Then pay Allah’s debt, for He is more deserving of repayment."
[Bukhari: 6699, Muslim: 1638]

Another instance involved a woman who vowed to fast for a month if Allah saved her from a storm during a sea voyage. Though Allah granted her safety, she passed away before fulfilling her vow. Her daughter approached the Prophet (ﷺ), and he instructed her to fast on her mother’s behalf. [Abu Dawud: 3308, Nasa’i: 3487]

Scholars’ Views:
① Vows are an obligation; thus, heirs are required to fulfill them on behalf of the deceased.
② If it is a monetary vow, the heirs can use the estate to fulfill it.
③ If the heirs choose to fulfill it personally instead of from the estate, that is also permissible.

Common Mistakes in Vows​

Examples of Invalid Vows:
① Vows associated with trivial or frivolous matters, such as:

• Vowing to celebrate if a sports team wins,
• Vowing to prevent the wife from visiting her family if a wish is fulfilled,
• Vowing not to eat food from a particular place.

② Vowing for impermissible acts, like:

• Visiting a shrine on foot,
• Cooking large meals for distribution at shrines,
• Performing acts linked to superstitions or rituals not sanctioned in Islam.

③ Making vows one cannot realistically fulfill, such as:

• Committing to one hundred additional prayers by someone who struggles with obligatory prayers.

④ Vowing to give large amounts in charity that exceed one’s financial capacity.

⑤ Vowing to free a slave in modern times, when it is not feasible.

Superstitious Vows Involving the Dead or Saints​

Many people in ignorance make vows involving dead or living saints, such as:
① Vowing to visit a shrine if a need is fulfilled,
② Vowing to prepare and distribute meals in honor of a saint,
③ Wearing specific garments or tokens in a saint’s name,
④ Believing that fulfilling or neglecting the vow will result in blessings or harm from the saint.

Such vows are forbidden and constitute grave errors in belief because:
① Vows are a form of worship and must be made solely for Allah.
② Making vows for others besides Allah is a form of shirk (association).
③ Believing that the saint can directly affect one's situation or grant blessings is also shirk.
④ Only Allah has control over benefit and harm.

Islamic Rulings:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) stated: "Cursed is the one who sacrifices for anyone other than Allah."
The Tafsir Kabir mentions that sacrificing animals at a shrine (Gufr) is impermissible.
Furthermore, consensus (ijma) exists on the prohibition of making vows for created beings.
The act of slaughtering animals at graves and tombs, as well as sacrifices made in reverence for kings or personalities, are forbidden, even if Allah's name is mentioned.

Summary​

Islam strictly prohibits vows for anything other than Allah. Scholars agree that such vows are invalid and do not need to be fulfilled. Only Allah can be the recipient of such acts of devotion, and any deviation from this principle is considered an act of shirk.