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Fatwa CenterMade a vow to Allaah and wants to change it
Question
To get something done, I pledged to allah that each year I will utilize Rs.30000 to arrange a meal for people around 300. But now I want to use that money for any poor family who can use that money for their living. Please advise what to do and which option should I select.
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 
is His slave and Messenger.
Making a covenant with Allaah is something confirmed and Allaah has ordered us to fulfill it as Allaah Says (what means): {And fulfil the Covenant when you have covenanted, and break not the oaths after you have confirmed them.}[Quran 16:91] Allaah also Says (what means): {And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.}[Quran 17:34] Moreover, the Prophet said: “There is no religion for whoever does not fulfill his promises.” [Ahmad] For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 130547.
As regards fulfilling a promise to Allaah, then there are details about this issue, so if one makes a promise to Allaah to do an act of obedience by which he gets closer to Allaah, then it is a vow and an oath, and if he had made the promise to Allaah on something that is not an act by which he gets closer to Him, then it is an oath and not a vow; Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah 
adopted this opinion.
The benefit of these details is that what is a vow and it is possible to do, then one is obligated to fulfill it and it is not sufficient for him to break his vow and make an expiation like that done for breaking an oath. But as regards an oath, then the person has a choice either to fulfill it if it is not a sin, or he may break it and expiate for breaking his oath.
Therefore, you are obligated to fulfill this promise to Allaah in the same way you had determined it, so every year you should feed that number of needy people and it is not permissible for you to do something else as long as you are able to fulfill your promise.
Finally, it should be noted that the covenant is very great in the Sight of Allaah. Imaam Ahmad said: “The covenant is greatly emphasized in ten places in the Book of Allaah; Allaah Says (what means): {And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.}[Quran 17:34]”
Allaah Knows best.
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