A question about the permissibility of revoking a vow before it is fulfilled, considering that the vow is not tied to a specific time.
[AR_ID:3175]
🤖
AI Notice: This translation was generated by AI and is currently awaiting human verification.
1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
If the vow was made correctly and meets all the necessary conditions, including the ability to fulfill it at the designated time, then it must be honored. However, if the person who made the vow is a wife or a child (even if they are of age), according to some scholars, they can seek the permission of their father or husband to annul the vow. Here are the detailed rulings:
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Khamenei (may Allah protect him):
A vow does not become binding merely by intention; it must be articulated in a specific form. This form should express the commitment to perform or abstain from an action for the sake of Allah, such as saying, 'I vow to fast' or 'I vow to abstain from drinking alcohol.' It is apparent that using other names of Allah is also acceptable. It is not far-fetched for it to be valid in any language, especially for those who do not speak Arabic. If one only says, 'I have this obligation,' it does not constitute a vow, even if they intend it for Allah. If they say, 'I vowed to Allah to fast' or 'I have a vow to fast a day,' there is ambiguity regarding its validity, so it is better to exercise caution.
It is obligatory to ensure that a woman's vow does not become binding in the presence of her husband unless he permits it. If her husband allows her, he cannot annul it afterward.
A child does not need their father's permission for their vow, and the father cannot annul it or prevent the child from fulfilling it.
Source: Tahrir al-Wasila, Vows, Issue 1 + Special Inquiry: 1, 2.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sistani (may Allah protect him):
A vow does not become binding merely by intention; it must be articulated in a specific form that includes the word 'for Allah' or similar names. For example, if someone says, 'For Allah, I must perform a night prayer' or 'For the Most Merciful, I must give charity of one hundred dinars,' the vow is valid. If they only say, 'I have this obligation,' it does not constitute a vow, even if they intend it for Allah. If they say, 'I vowed to Allah to fast' or 'I have a vow to fast,' there is ambiguity regarding its validity, so it is better to exercise caution (which means avoiding breaking the vow and paying a penalty if violated).
A child's vow is valid whether or not the parent permits it. However, if one of the parents forbids the child from fulfilling the vow, and it is no longer considered beneficial for them, the vow is annulled, and they are not obliged to fulfill it. It also does not become binding if they were previously instructed not to do so.
A wife's vow is not valid without her husband's permission if it contradicts his rights (such as vowing to fast). There is ambiguity regarding the validity of her vow concerning her own property without his permission and approval (except for Hajj, Zakat, charity, and obligations towards her parents and relatives), so it is better to exercise caution in this regard. If he permits her to make the vow, it becomes binding, and he cannot annul it afterward or prevent her from fulfilling it.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin, Vol. 3,Issue 706 + Selected Issues,Issue 1247.
May you be successful in all good.