Making vow requires wording that implies commitment
Fatwa No: 347482

Question

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykh. I am very confused regarding statements that I say and whether they constitute vows or not. Is it necessary to have the intention of vowing in order for a statement to be a vow, or is it not? For example, if I supplicate, saying, "Oh Allaah, please call me on ‘Umrah, I wish to sit in front of Your House and remember You do such-and-such;" will it be considered a vow? And if I am called for ‘Umrah and do not do the things that I mentioned in that supplication, will that be considered breaking a vow? Another example: if I supplicate, saying, "Oh Allaah, bless me with money so that I may spend it in Your Way;" is it a vow? Hence, if I do get money and do not spend it in Allaah's Way, will I have broken the vow? Or if I spend some of it but not everything? Please advise, Shaykh. I have read details on the vow, but I need some clarification, specifically regarding my supplications, as I stop so many times while supplicating out of fear that maybe it will be counted as a vow. Please advise specifically regarding these two supplications that I have mentioned above as well as in general. May Allaah reward you, Shaykh.

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.

A vow is not made just by saying the supplication that you mentioned. A vow does not become effective without a wording that implies commitment, and what you mentioned does not indicate commitment.

To be honest with you, we noticed from your numerous previous questions that you are affected with a kind of Waswaas (obsessive doubts), so we advise you to stop indulging in these doubts, to not get carried away with them, and to not ask so many questions except in matters of religion that lead to doing good deeds.

May Allah guide us and you to do what He loves and what He is pleased with.

Allah knows best.

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