Vows to refrain from sin

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

Brother in Islaam,

As humans we are prone to sin, but the best of sinners is the one who repents and turns to Allaah Ta’aala. He is Ar-Rahmaan, the Most-Merciful, Al-Ghaffaar, the Oft-Forgiving.

Reflect upon the following. Allaah Ta’aala says,

قُلْ يَاعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ 

Translation: “Say (O Prophet): (Allaah declares to humanity) O My beloved servants! Those (of you) who have committed (sins in great) excess against their own souls, never despond of the mercy of Allaah! For, indeed, Allaah forgives the sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He (alone) who is All-Forgiving, the Mercy-Giving.[1]” (Az-Zumar v.53)

Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said,

قال الله تبارك وتعالى: يا ابن آدم إنك ما دعوتني ورجوتني غفرت لك على ما كان فيك ولا أبالي، يا ابن آدم لو بلغت ذنوبك عنان السماء ثم استغفرتني غفرت لك، ولا أبالي، يا ابن آدم إنك لو أتيتني بقراب الأرض خطايا ثم لقيتني لا تشرك بي شيئا لأتيتك بقرابها مغفرة[2]

Translation: “Allaah, Blessed is He and Most High, said: ‘O son of Adam! Verily as long as you call upon Me and hope in Me, I will forgive you, despite whatever may have occurred from you, and I do not mind. O son of Adam! If your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky, then you were to seek forgiveness from Me, I will forgive you, and I do not mind. O son of Adam! If you come to me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and then you meet Me not associating anything with Me (as partners), I will come to you with forgiveness nearly as great as it.” (Tirmidhi 5408)

Nevertheless, it is not clear what you mean by you “given my word to Allah”. If you took an oath with the name of Allaah Ta’aala, kaffaarah[3] will be binding upon you for each oath taken. You state that you do not recall the number of oaths you have taken. You should apply your discretion and decide on what is most probable.  

In the second paragraph, you refer to nadhr (vow). In this instance too, you do not recall the amount. You should apply your discretion and decide on what is most probable and thereafter fast three days for each vow taken[4].

We advise you to refrain from taking such daring oaths. We are not aware of the nature of the sin you refer to. Hence, we cannot advise with solutions in overcoming it. You may revert to us at admin@daruliftaa.net for our advice.

It is praiseworthy to note that you are trying to rectify yourself. However, in doing so, you should not adopt methods of your own. You should seek help from a righteous spiritual guide.

You may also listen to the discourses of my honorable teacher, Mufti Ebrahim Desai (Hafizahullaah) on the Qaseedah Burdah.

And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best.

Muajul I. Chowdhury

Student, Darul Iftaa

Astoria, New York, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.