Am I Bound by a Verbal Vow to Fast After Masturbation and for How Long?
Hanafi Fiqh
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I verbally swore that if I masturbated again, I would fast for 2 or 3 days, intending it only for masturbation with porn. Am I bound by the literal wording or my actual intention? Also, is this vow binding indefinitely, as I did not specify a time limit?
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.
You are bound by your words, which will remain in effect indefinitely.
A vow is when one invokes the names of Allah (Most High) and promises thereby to do an action. Taking an oath by Allah (Most High) is a severe matter. It should not be taken lightly. If you made such a vow, honor it.
If someone vows to undertake a permissible action according to Sacred law, that action becomes necessary for them to fulfill. If they are unable to complete it, they must perform an expiation.
Conversely, if someone vows to commit an impermissible action, they must immediately seek expiation and refrain from carrying it out.
Expiation
- free a slave – 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 are within one’s ability, they must fast for three consecutive days. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]
Making a Vow
Taking an oath by Allah (Most High) is a severe matter. It should not be taken lightly. If you made such a vow, honor it.
Please go through the valuable answers and links below. Insha’Allah, they will provide you with guidance and direction.
Related
- Oaths Archives—SeekersGuidance
- What Are the Words That Make an Oath Binding?
- Vows and Oaths: Keep Repeating the Mistake. Do I have to keep repeating—IslamQA
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance? You can choose from the Islamic Studies Curriculum or the Youth Islamic Studies Curriculum and progress through each course step by step.
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
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.
