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Fatwa CenterRuling on Saying 'Life in Exchange for Life'
Question
When my father had a stroke, my elder aunt told my mother to offer a goat in sadaqah and said, "Life in exchange for life." Does saying "Life in exchange for life"cause any issues with iman or is it correct? Also, if my mother says something like, "Alright, if he gets well,i will offer a goat as sadaqah" does that count as a vow (manat) or just an intention (niyat)? does that count as a vow (manat) or just an intention (niyat)?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The meaning of the phrase “life in exchange for life” is unclear, and giving a ruling on it is simply a branch of knowing what is meant by it.
As for the phrase: “If he gets well, I will offer a goat as Sadaqah (charity),” it forms a vow, and it is obligatory to fulfill it if recovery occurs.
It is mentioned in Al-Furu' by Ibn Muflih 
: “‘If Allah heals my sick person, or if my wealth is preserved, or if the sun rises, then I owe such and such to Allah, or I will do such and such’, (these statements are binding vows) given the indication of the situation, as noted by Ibn 'Aqeel and others, similar to saying, ‘I will give such and such in charity.’ Imam Ahmad also stated this with the example: ‘If so-and-so arrives, I will give such and such in charity.’ Our shaykh (i.e. Imam Ibn Qudamah ) also said about someone who says, ‘If so-and-so arrives, I will fast such and such days’: ‘This is a vow that must be fulfilled when one is able. I don't know of any disagreement (among the scholars) about this. Whoever says it is not a vow is mistaken.’” [End quote]
Allah knows best.
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