Book 14: Vows

Chapter 1

Ibn Abbas reported that Sa’d b. Ubida asked Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) for a decision about a vow taken by his mother who had died before filling it. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Fulfil it on her behalf.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Zuhri with a different chains of transmitters.

‘Abdullah b. Umar reported: Allah’s Messenger (may peace he upon him) singled out one day forbidding us to take vows and said: It would not avert anything; it is by which something is extracted from the miserly person.

Ibn Umar reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: The vow neither hastens anything nor defers anything, but is the means whereby (something) is extracted from the miserly person.

Ibn Umar reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) forbade (people) taking vows, and said: It does not (necessarily) bring good (in the form of substantial and tangible results), but it is the meant whereby something is extracted from the miserly persons.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Mansur with the same chain of transmitters.

Abu Heraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not take vows, for a vow has no effect against Fate; it is only from the miserly that something is extracted.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbidding taking of vows, and said: It does not avert Fate, but is the means by which something is extracted from the miser.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) as saying: The vow does not bring anything near to the son of Adam which Allah has not ordained for him, but (at times) the vow coincides with Destiny, and this is how something is extracted from the miserly person, which that miser was not willing to give.

This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of ‘Amr b. Abu ‘Amr.

Chapter 2: The Vow is Not to Be Fulfilled Which is Made in Disobedience to Allah nor that Over Which a Man Has No Control

Imran b. Husain reported that the tribe of Thaqif was the ally of Banu ‘Uqail. Thaqif took two persons from amongst the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as prisoners. The Companions of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) took one person at Banu Uqail as prisoner, and captured al-‘Adbi (the she-camel of the Holy Prophet) along with him. Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came to him and he was tied with ropes. He said: Muhammad. He came near him and said: What is the matter with you? Thereupon he (the prisoner) said: Why have you taken me as prisoner and why have you caught hold of one proceeding the pilgrims (the she-camel as she carried the Holy Prophet on her back and walked ahead of the multitude)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: (Yours is a great fault). I (my men) have caught hold of you for the crime of your allies, Banu Thaqif. He (the Holy Prophet) then turned away. He again called him and said: Muhammad, Muhammad, and since Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was very compassionate, and tender hearted, he returned to him, and said: What is the matter with you? He said: I am a Muslim, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Had you said this when you had been the master of yourself, you would have gained every success. He then turned away. He (the prisoner) called him again saying: Muhammad, Muhammad. He came to him and said: What is the matter with you? He said: I am hungry, feed me, and I am thirsty, so provide me with drink. He (the Holy Prophet) said: That is (to satisfy) your want. He was then ransomed for two persons (who had been taken prisoner by Thaqif). He (the narrator) said: A woman of the Ansar had been taken prisoner and also al-Adbi’ was caught. The woman had been tied with ropes. The people were giving rest to their animals before their houses. She escaped one night from the bondage and came to the camels. As she drew near the camels, they fretted and fumed and so she left them until she came to al-Adbi’. It did not fret and fume; it was docile. She rode upon its back and drove it away and she went off. When they (the enemies of Islam) were warned of this, they went in search of it, but it (the she-camel) exhausted them. She (the woman) took vow for Allah, that in case He would save her through it, she would offer that as a sacrifice. As she reached Medina, the people saw her and they said: Here is al-Adbi’, the she-camel of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him). She (the woman) said that she had taken a vow that if Allah would save her on its back, she would sacrifice it. They (the Prophet’s Companions) came to Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) and made a mention of that to him, whereupon he said: Hallowed be Allah, how ill she rewarded it that she took vow to Allah that if He saves her on its back, she would sacrifice it! There is no fulfilment of the vow in an act of disobedience, nor in an act over which a person has no control. In the version of Ibn Hujr (the words are): “There is no vow in disobedience to Allah.”

This hadith is narrated on the authority of Ayyub with the same chain of transmitters and a slight variation of words.

Chapter 3: He Who Took the Vow that He Would Go on Foot to the Ka’ba

Anas reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) saw an old man being supported between his two sons. He (the Holy Prophet) said: What is the matter with him? They said: He had taken the vow to walk (on foot to the Ka’ba). Thereupon he (Allah’s Apostle) said: Allah is indifferent to his inflicting upon himself chastisement, and he commanded him to ride.

Abu Huraira reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) found an old man walking between his two sons supported by them, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: What is the matter with him? He (the narrator) said: Allah’s Messenger, they are his sons and there is upon him the (fulfilment) of the vow, whereupon Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: Ride, old man, for Allah is not in need of you and your vow.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of ‘Amr b. Abu ‘Amr with the same chain of transmitters.

‘Uqba b. Amir reported: My sister took a vow that she would walk bare foot to the house of Allah (Ka’ba). She asked me to inquire from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) about it. I sought his decision and he said: She should walk on foot and ride also.

This hadith has been narrated on the authority of ‘Uqba b. Amir Juhani, but in this no mention has been made of “barefoot”.

‘Uqba b. Amir reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The expiation of the (breach of) a vow is the same as that of the (breach of an oath).