Vowing to take his mother to perform `Umrah in Ramadan if what he wants to happen occurs, but taking her before his wish is granted

327

Q 2: I made a vow to take my mother to perform `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) during Ramadan if a certain event happened. However, I went to `Umrah with her - but not during Ramadan - before the event took place, and I did it with the intention that, if the event did occur, that `Umrah would be in place of the `Umrah in Ramadan. Should I now go with my mother to perform `Umrah once again during Ramadan or is the `Umrah we performed before sufficient to keep my vow? Q 4: I vowed to slaughter a sheep and give it as Sadaqah (voluntary charity) if I passed a specific academic year. Is it permissible to give an equivalent of the cost of a sheep as Sadaqah instead of slaughtering one?

A: You should keep your vow and take your mother to perform `Umrah during Ramadan, and slaughter a sheep and feed the poor. It did not count (Part No. 23; Page No. 286) as a fulfillment of your vow when you took your mother to `Umrah before Ramadan, nor will it count to give the price of a sheep in Sadaqah instead of slaughtering one. It is confirmed that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Whoever vows to be obedient to Allah must be obedient to Him. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.