Definition, Ruling & Evidence

**1. Definition:** **Linguistically:** Nadhr means obligation. You say "nadhara" (vowed) when you obligate something upon yourself. **Legally:** A legally responsible, free-choosing person binding himself to something for Allah. --- **2. Evidence for Vows:** Vows are established by the Quran, Sunnah, and consensus. --- **3. Ruling on Making Vows:** Making a vow **initially** is **disliked** (makrūh), not recommended. **Evidence:** The Prophet ﷺ forbade vows and said: "It does not bring any good; it only extracts [charity] from the miser" [Bukhari & Muslim]. **Reasons:** - The one who vows binds himself to something not originally obligatory - He burdens himself - A Muslim should do good without needing to vow **However**, if someone makes a vow of **obedience**, fulfilling it becomes **obligatory**. **Evidence:** - Allah says: "Whatever you spend or vow, Allah knows it" [Al-Baqarah: 270] - Allah says: "They fulfill their vows" [Al-Insan: 7] - The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him. Whoever vows to disobey Allah, let him not disobey Him" [Bukhari] Allah praised those who fulfill vows, and the Prophet ﷺ commanded fulfilling them. This shows the prohibition was for **dislike** not **forbiddance**, and what's disliked is initiating the vow, while fulfilling it is obligatory and an act of obedience. **Important:** Vows are a form of worship that cannot be directed to other than Allah. Whoever vows to a grave, saint, etc., has committed **major shirk** (associating partners with Allah).