A person has vowed to sacrifice a sheep but finds it too expensive. They are asking if they can instead buy a chicken.
[AR_ID:4603]
🤖
AI Notice: This translation was generated by AI and is currently awaiting human verification.
1 Answer
Peace be upon you.
Ayatollah Al-Sistani (may Allah protect him):
It is not permissible to change the object of a vow.
The object of a vow, whether an action or abstention, must be something that the person making the vow can fulfill at the time. If they are unable to do so at the specified time (if it is a time-bound vow) or at any time (if it is an unconditional vow), then the vow is not valid. If they become unable to fulfill it later, the vow is nullified and there is no obligation on them.
Source: Minhaj al-Salihin - Vol. 3, Article 711
Ayatollah Al-Khamenei (may Allah protect him):
If the vow was validly made according to the necessary conditions, including the proper verbal formulation, then the object cannot be changed.
If the person who made the vow is unable to fulfill it at the specified time (if it is time-bound) or at any time (if it is unconditional), then the vow is nullified and they have no obligation. However, if they vowed to fast and are unable to do so, it is stronger to give a measure of food for each day, and it is preferable to give two measures.
Source: Special Inquiry: 1, 2.
May you be successful in all good.