Permission of the Father
Question :

I have made an oath a few years ago but I now regret having made it, and I would like to cancel it since I find it inconvenient to fulfil it. My understanding is that my father can forbid it, then it would be cancelled. Is this true?

Answer :

The oath that is obligatory to fulfil is the one which is preceded by the permission of the father. If the son made the oath without informing his father or getting his permission, it is not obligatory to fulfil it.

Pronouncing
Question :

In the case of a person making a Qasam (pledge) or Nadhr (vow/covenant) to Almighty Allah, is it necessary that they utter it in words with the tongue, or is it sufficient that they have the intention in their heart for it to become obligatory to act upon?

Answer :

It is not mandatory to fulfill the vow (nadhr) or the oath (qasam) unless they are verbally pronounced in the proper manner.

Vow in the Front of the 'Alam
Question :

If a person vows in front of the 'Alam of Abu'l-Fadhl al-Abbas (peace be upon him) that he will not smoke ever again, and he does smoke years later, will he be liable to any kaffara, and once he has broken the vow and paid the kaffara, can he continue to smoke?

Answer :

If the oath is taken in Allah's name that he will refrain from doing a certain think, like smoking, then the kaffara must be paid if the vow is broken. The kaffara is feeding ten needy people 900 grams each of staple food like dates, flour and rice, or alternatively providing ten needy people with clothes. If neither of these is possible, one should fast for three consecutive days.
Our advice is to continue avoiding what he has vowed to stop, even if he has broken the vow once, as it is better for him.

Oath on the Holy Book
Question :

If somebody pledges an oath on the Holy Quran that he will only smoke during one day a week, and that person encounters strong difficulties in trying to uphold that oath, does the oath becomes annulled?

Answer :

It is not required to fulfill such an oath unless it sworn on Almighty Allah or His names. It is not obligatory to fulfill the oaths on other sanctified things like the Holy Quran and the Ka’bah. Generally, we advise you to decrease making oaths.

Covenant vs Promise
Question :

Is there any difference between the covenant (ahd) and the promise (wa’d)? If someone says, “I promise (wa’d) to Allah that I will do something”, is this a valid covenant (ahd), although he hasn’t used the word ‘ahd’? Are the rules of covenants applicable to this statement?

Answer :

It is obligatory to act upon the covenant (ahd) with Allah almighty. If one does not do so it is a sin and a kaffarah must be given. Whereas, it is not obligatory to act upon the promise (wa’d) and there is no kaffarah for doing so.
It is better not to do either of them. Doing good deeds when possible and avoiding bad deeds when possible is better than obligating oneself with additional religious duties.

Swearing by Other Than Allah
Question :

Is it permissible to swear by other than Allah, for example, by saying "bi'l-Husayn" or "bi'l-Abbas"?

Answer :

It is permissible to do so.

Writing a Book
Question :

If someone makes a nadhr (promise) to Allah to write a book, may he put the material into a video or audio presentation instead, or does he have to write a book?

Answer :

This depends on the intention of the person that made the vow (nadhr). If he meant particularly and literally writing a book, then that is specifically what he must do. If he meant bringing some material or information into the public or to publish something in any way, then he has a choice.

Promise to Recite the Quran
Question :

If someone makes a promise to complete the recitation of the Holy Quran, does he have to correct the mistakes for the recitation to be fulfilled?

Answer :

The subject of the vow is the correct recitation in the normal way based on the information the person possesses. If he realized that there was a mistake, then he should correct it. If he realizes that he made a mistake after some time has passed or after he has completed the recitation of the Quran, then it is not obligated to repeat the recitation correctly, although it is better to repeat those verses that were read incorrectly.

Sacrificial Animal
Question :

What conditions are there for the sacrificial animal which must be slaughtered for a vow? If the animal is damaged or injured, will it suffice?

Answer :

It is permissible to sacrifice for the vow a damaged or injured animal, unless its well-being was a part of the vow.

Medical Work
Question :

A man’s mother died from illness that resulted from female genital mutilation in his youth. Then he made a covenant (ahd) with Allah Almighty to become a professional gynecologist, and treat women with similar problems. Is this covenant valid and obligatory to observe? Is it allowed for a Muslim man to work as a gynecologist or obstetrician?

Answer :

The said covenant (ahd) is correct and one should act upon it if the profession is required to prevent harm from reaching Muslim women. It is not obligatory to act on it if there are enough Muslim female physicians.
It is permissible to take up such a profession, and it is permissible to deliver babies when necessary.

Vow to go to Karbala
Question :

I made a vow to travel to Karbala if I get a job, within a year of getting the job. Alhamdullilah, I secured a job, but I realized that I do not have funds to go with my parents who have always dreamed of going to Karbala. I can either go myself or send them. Is it permissible to send them this year and postpone my ziyarah for a later time?

Answer :

If the vow (“nadhr”) was correct based on religious laws, then it is obligatory to act upon it, i.e. you are not permitted to ignore it, and you must perform the ziyarah this year.

Covenant
Question :

If one makes a covenant with Almighty Allah, and breaks it more than once, would it be obligatory upon him to pay the Kaffara each time he broke it?

Answer :

If he broke the covenant once by doing what he specified in it to abstain from, and he paid the kaffara, he does not have to pay it again each time he does that again.
Likewise, if he specified to do something more than once and he abstained from doing it once, and he paid the kaffara, he does not have to pay it again if he abstains from doing it again.

Change the Vow
Question :

Somebody did a ‘nadhr’ – a vow – that if Allah blesses him with a child, he will donate a hundred baby feeders to an imambargah. Can this be subsequently changed to provide financial help to the poor?

Answer :

It is not mandatory to fulfill the vow (nadhr) unless they are verbally pronounced in the proper manner. If it was done in the proper manner, one is not allowed to change the subject of the nadhr.

Frequent Swearing by Allah
Question :

A lot of Muslims frequently say "Wallahi", swearing by Allah's name over unimportant things. Is this considered haram or makrooh?

Answer :

It is disliked (makrooh) to do so.

Breaking the Vow
Question :

I had made a vow before my Lord Allah Almighty about four years ago to quit smoking. However, I have broken that vow by smoking, and I wish to continue smoking now as it helps me feel easy in difficult times. Can I do so now?

Answer :

You have already broken the vow, so the vow no longer applies. You committed the sin and are required to pay the kaffarah, but you are now permitted to smoke.

Kaffara
Question :

What is the Kaffara for violating an oath or a vow?

Answer :

The kaffara – in our time – for violating an oath or a vow is feeding ten poor persons, by giving each one of them 900 grams of food, or clothing them; if neither of these are possible, then one should fast for three consecutive days.