Can I Repent After Vowing Hellfire Upon Myself and Committing the Sin?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I vowed, “If I commit (specific sin), grant me Hellfire forever,” but later committed the sin.

Can I repent and seek forgiveness for breaking this vow? Is the vow binding, and does it require expiation? If so, what is the correct method, and would I still be bound by the vow after expiation?

If this vow is considered a harmful dua against me, how can I undo it?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

As you have committed the sin, you have broken the oath and will now give an expiation (kaffara). You will not be bound by the vow again. However, be careful when making these types of duas against yourself. Continue to seek forgiveness for its overall benefit on our lives. This will undo the past mistakes, insha’Allah.

Expiation for a Broken Oath

• Free a slave (not applicable in these times)– or,
• Donate clothing to 10 poor people (clothing must be able to cover enough of the body for prayer to be valid) – or,
• Feed ten poor people one meal (the monetary value of the food donated to 10 poor people suffices).

If none of the above is within one’s ability, one must fast for three consecutive days. [‘Ala’uddin Ibn ‘Abidin, al-Hadiyya al-‘Ala’iyya]

May Allah Most High guide us to what pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

• Is Expiation Required for Each Instance You Break an Oath?
• Oaths Archives – SeekersGuidance
• What Are the Words That Make an Oath Binding? – SeekersGuidance
• Vows and Oaths: Keep Repeating the Mistake. Do I have to keep repeating – IslamQA
• What Is the Expiation (Kaffara) of Breaking an Oath? – SeekersGuidanceA Reader on Tawba (Repentance)

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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.