Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Question: Assalamu alaykum
I have taken an oath to perform two cycles of nafl prayer in a day if I performed a certain task. I performed that task but my period started just after that. What’s the ruling on it? Can I perform two nafl prayers when my periods will be over?
Answer: Wa ‘alaylkum as-salam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh
I pray you are well. Thank you for your question.
You can simply pray 2 units when your period ends and your oath will be fulfilled.
The oath you swore is called a nadhr in the Shariʿa: an oath to perform a certain act of worship if a particular thing happens. In oaths such as these, when fulfilling them, it is only important that the act of worship be present. Stipulated times, places, cash and specific poor people are overlooked.
So if someone swore to fast all of Dhul-Qaʿda, but ends of fasting all of Muharram instead the oath is considered fulfilled. The same applies to praying 2 units on a Friday, but praying them on Sunday instead, or giving a particular £10 note to a specific poor person, but doing a bank transfer of that amount to someone else.
(Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah).
May Allah bless you with the best of both worlds.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat