{"_id":"668da0bb0b76658b4c233f2c","title":"Is making a vow disliked as we are setting conditions with Allah?","question":"If I recall correctly, an oath (يمين) is a promise to do something or refrain from something and its penalty is paying the expiation (كفّارة) as legislated in the Qur'an and a vow (نذر) is a promise to do something that's not obligatory or not to do something that's not prohibited on specific conditions made by ourselves. My question is, is making a vow disliked as we are setting conditions with Allah? For example, in the Qur'an there's mention of Maryam's (AS) mother making dua' for a child so that they could serve Allah, or Musa's (AS) dua' asking to send Harun (AS) with him as a partner so that they can glorify and remember Allah more. Is this type of vow permissible, where we promise to do good on the condition that Allah grants us a blessing? Or is it disliked and this was only something for the previous nations?","answer":"There are two types of vows: the first type is intended for committing to a pious act that is not obligatory. Essentially, with the vow, you turn a recommended or simply permissible (mubah) act into an obligatory one. For example, sadaqa (charity) is recommended, but if you vow to give a certain amount of money in sadaqa, you’ve turned the act into an obligatory one. This type of vow is praiseworthy, and you must fulfill it.\n\nThe other type of vow is one where the pious act is not the objective, and it usually stems from a dispute or anger, like when someone does not believe you and you say, “If I’m wrong, then I owe Allah $100 in sadaqa.” This type of vow is makruh, and you do not have to fulfill it; rather, you’re given the choice to fulfill it or pay kaffara.\n\nVowing to do something if Allah blesses you with something, like saying, \"If Allah blesses me with a child, I will give X amount in charity,\" is completely permissible. It is not \"setting conditions\" with Allah.","tags":[{"_id":"668d9ff20b76658b4c2329d9","tag":"Worship: Intention","count":103},{"_id":"668d9fff0b76658b4c232b60","tag":"Worship: Other","count":54}],"createdOn":"2024-07-09T20:42:35.970Z"}