Do My Oaths and Vows Bind Me to the Hanafi Position?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

I made oaths saying, “By Allah, if I marry while this house exists, I will become a kafir” and “I make a vow for Allah that in this matter I am Hanafi.” Can oaths and vows bind me to the Hanafi position and prevent me from following the Shafi’i opinion? Are they even validly concluded? How do I get free from them?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate.

A vow only counts when you promise to do an act of worship, like fasting, giving charity, or praying. Saying you will be Hanafi in a matter is not an act of worship, but a legal choice. These vows were never valid in the first place. You do not need to do anything to be released from them.

The Oaths Do Not Bind You to a School or Invalidate Your Actions

Oaths made out of baseless doubts are not binding, and you are not held to them. Even if you had made a valid oath, the most you would need to do is offer the expiation for a broken oath. No oath can force you to follow a particular school, and it cannot make your worship or marriage invalid if you act on a sound opinion. Your prayers and your marriage, whenever they happen, are valid.

The Wording About Disbelief

Speaking words like these is sinful, and you should avoid them in the future. They did not make you a disbeliever, and there are no lasting consequences. Turn to Allah in repentance, say “There is no god but Allah” with a heart full of love, and move on. This matter is closed.

This Matter Is Now Closed

You have asked, and you have your answer. Changing the words will not change the ruling. Asking about more versions only feeds the doubts that trouble you. Do not repeat these statements or test yourself with them. If you find these thoughts keep coming back, it may help to speak with a mental health professional who understands OCD. Allah is Merciful, and He has made your religion easy.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick

Related Answers

• Can an Oath or a Vow Make the Stronger Opinion Binding? — Comprehensive explanation of how oaths relate to legal schools and their binding force.
• A Reader on OCD and Waswasa (Baseless Misgivings) — Guidance on recognizing and addressing obsessive patterns related to religious practice.