The two verses:
"Whatever you spend or vow — Allah knows it." (Al-Baqarah 2:270)
"They fulfill their vows and fear a day whose evil is widespread." (Al-Insan 76:7)
Definition of a vow (nadhr):
A competent person obligating himself to perform an act of worship not originally required — through a formal commitment.
Ruling on making a vow:
Disliked (makruh) — based on the hadith: "It brings no good; it is only extracted from the miser." (Agreed upon)
Fulfilling the vow:
Obligatory — Allah praised the believers for fulfilling vows in Al-Insan 76:7. Also: "then let them fulfill their vows" (Al-Hajj 22:29).
Types of vows:
- Vow of devotion (unconditional): "For the sake of Allah I will fast a month" — must be fulfilled.
- Conditional vow: "If Allah heals me I will fast a week" — becomes obligatory when the condition is met.
- Vow to commit a sin: Not permissible to fulfill — requires expiation equivalent to breaking an oath (majority view).
- Vow for something permissible: Disputed — the majority say it is not obligatory.
Question: What is the ruling on making a vow in the first place? What is the evidence? And what is the ruling on fulfilling it once made?
Answer: Making a vow is disliked — hadith: "It brings no good; it is only extracted from the miser." Fulfilling it is obligatory — "they fulfill their vows" (76:7) and Allah praised those who do.