I want to perform manat or nazar as it is called. I want to know the right procedure and way to do this. Also, I want to know the right condition it can be performed in.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam is reported to have said,
إن النذر لا يقدم شيئا ولا يؤخر، وإنما يستخرج بالنذر من البخيل
“Verily vows do not bring forth nor delay anything. It only extracts from the stingy person.” (Bukhari 6692; Daru Tawq Annajaa)
In this Hadith Nabi salallāhu ῾alayhi wasallam mentions oaths. People take oaths for their wishes or desires to be fulfilled, whereas in reality these oaths have no effect on ones’ predetermined destiny. Whatever has been predestined will come to fruition.
If one wishes to give charity then he should not suspend it upon making an oath or a vow. By doing so the impression is given that his wish is the real aim whilst the charity is secondary. Rather he should spend in the path of Allah Ta’ala without suspending it on an oath.
If an individual takes an oath only as an aid to further solidify his resolution then he may do so. The wording of a vow should express the obligation of the task one is going to undertake. For example, “I oblige myself to give charity for Allah Ta’ala.”[1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Ali bin Cassim,
Student Darul Iftaa
Los Angeles, U.S.A
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1]بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (5/ 81)
أَمَّا الْأَوَّلُ: فَرُكْنُ النَّذْرِ هُوَ الصِّيغَةُ الدَّالَّةُ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ قَوْلُهُ: ” لِلَّهِ عَزَّ شَأْنُهُ عَلَيَّ كَذَا، أَوْ عَلَيَّ كَذَا، أَوْ هَذَا هَدْيٌ، أَوْ صَدَقَةٌ، أَوْ مَالِي صَدَقَةٌ، أَوْ مَا أَمْلِكُ صَدَقَةٌ، وَنَحْوُ ذَلِكَ.
فتارى محمودية، ج14ص59، اداره الفاروق