My four-year-old son is recovering from an illness. Should I make a vow, to be fulfilled once he recovers, and supplicate to Allaah? Thank you and As-Salaamu ‘Alaykum.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alyhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

We implore Allaah The Almighty to cure your son soon and guide you to be grateful to Him. Supplicating to Allaah The Almighty to cure your son is one of the best deeds and fastest ways of treatment. Surely, benefit and harm are only in the Hands of Allaah The Almighty and He is the Healer who answers the supplications of the distressed and suffering, just as He answered the supplication of Ayyoob (Job) . Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [mention] Ayyoob (Job), when he called to his Lord, "Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful." So We responded to him and removed what afflicted him of adversity.} [Quran 21:83-84]

However, supplication and vowing to offer sacrifices are not obligatory, while supplication for the cure of the sick person is recommended based on general proofs. However, scholars have differed over whether making vows is prohibited or disliked, and the preponderant opinion of the majority of scholars is that it is disliked because the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Making vows does not (necessarily) bring good or remove evil, but it is a means whereby something is extracted from the miser." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] So, we advise you not to vow. Instead, supplicate to Allaah The Almighty and give charity in general. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Seek cure of your sick people by giving charity." [Abu Ash-Shaykh in As-Sadaqah and As-Suyooti in Al-Jaami‘ As-Sagheer (Al-Albaani: Hasan (Sound)]

Allaah Knows best.