Vowed to fast a month; can she feed poor people despite her ability to fast?

6-8-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

I made a vow to Allah, the Exalted, to fast a whole month, but I want to feed poor people instead. Please note that I am able to fast. Is it permissible for me to do so?

Answer:

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  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His Slave and Messenger.

Allaah, the Exalted, commanded us to fulfill our vows. He said (what means): {… and fulfill their vows…} [Quran 22:29]

Allaah, the Exalted, praised His pious slaves from among  the people of Paradise, saying (what means): {They [are those who] fulfill [their] vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread.} [Quran 76:7] Therefore, the vow-taker is obliged to fulfill his vow exactly in the very manner that he had vowed. Changing the vow or offering a substitute of the vowed object is not a valid fulfillment of the vow unless he is totally and permanently unable to fulfill it. In such case, the vow-taker should offer an expiation like that for breaking an oath. Therefore, it is impermissible for you to feed poor people or do anything instead of fasting a whole month as you had vowed, as long as you are able to fast and you are not experiencing a case of inability that is not likely to end.

Allaah Knows best.

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