An Oath to Fast “If I Pass the Test…”

Answered by Shaykh Faraz A. Khan

Question: I made an oath about two years ago that if I passed a test I would fast 3 days each month. I have not done so and feel awful about this.

I wanted to know:

a) do I need to make up the fasts I missed?
b) what do I do to “get out” of the oath? (since it’s clear that I’m not able to do it)

Answer:

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray this finds you in the best of health states.

(a) This is a religious vow (nadhr), which is binding and mandatory. Hence, if you fail to fast three days each month as specified, then the missed days must be made up.

(b) This vow (nadhr) is in the form of a conditional statement, conjoined to a condition that was desired. Therefore, it is mandatory to fulfill the exact vow. There is no way of “getting out” of it, so you must fast three days each month as per your vow.

[Ala`uddin Abidin, Hadiyya Ala`iyya]

May Allah make this easy for you and a means by which you draw closer to Him. InshaAllah, you will see the fruits of fulfilling this vow in both this life and the next. By His grace and mercy, it will be a means of immense blessing (baraka) in all your endeavors.

And Allah knows best.
wassalam
Faraz A. Khan

Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani