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She made a vow and does not remember if she intended it to be ongoing or to be done only once

26-01-2002

Question 27057

When I was younger, at the age of adolescence, of course I did not know much about religion and I did not know about the consequences of vows. My love of goodness made me make some vows and I do not know if I vowed to do it until I die or if this was my intention. Now I want to get out of it and not do such a thing again. If there is a way out, please explain it to me. May Allaah reward you with all good.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

If there is some doubt as to whether the vow was intended as something ongoing, then the basic principle is that you are not subject to the commitment, so if you do the thing you vowed to do one time, that is enough. You should also note that making vows is makrooh and it is just a means of getting something out of those who are stingy, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said. Vows are not a means of getting something good. But if one has made a vow then fulfilling it is an obligatory duty. 

Vows
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