Question: A woman vowed that if she gave birth to a healthy baby and it lived for at least one year, she would then fast for a year. As such, a baby was born and lived for more than a year. But now she is unable to fast [for a year].
Response: There is no doubt that to make a vow of obedience is an act of worship. Allaah has praised those who fulfil such vows. Allaah says:
It is confirmed that the Prophet ﷺ said:
A man made a vow to sacrifice a camel at a certain location. He came to the Prophet ﷺ and the Prophet ﷺ asked him:
He said:”No.” He then said:
He said: “No.” So the Prophet ﷺ then said:
The one who is asking the question mentioned that she vowed to fast a whole year. Fasting a whole year is a continuous type of fasting that is considered a type of permanent fasting and permanent or continuous fasting is disliked. It is confirmed in the Saheeh that the Prophet ﷺ said:
There is no doubt that a disliked form of worship is a type of disobedience to Allaah. Therefore, one does not fulfil an oath to perform such an act. Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “If a person vows to perform an act of worship that is disliked, like praying the entire night or fasting the entire day, it is not obligatory to fulfil such an oath.”
Therefore, the questioner must make an expiation for the oath by feeding ten poor people with a half a saa’ of dates or other common staple foods of the land. If she is not able to, then she should fast three consecutive days.
And with Allaah lies all success and may Allaah send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet ﷺ and his family and his companions.
