What is the ruling on saying: "I pledge to God to carry out what is in my mind," intending matters that are conceived but not articulated? And is this considered a pledge, or does it require verbalization and naming specific matters?

Whoever makes a covenant with Allah to do something, it carries the ruling of a vow (nadhr).

- If the vow is an act of obedience: It is obligatory to fulfill it, due to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: «Whoever vows to obey Allah, let him obey Him; and whoever vows to disobey Him, let him not disobey Him.»

- If the vow is permissible (mubah): The one who made the vow has the choice between fulfilling it or abandoning it with expiation (kaffarat yamin): feeding ten poor persons or clothing them, or emancipating a slave. If he cannot find these, then fasting three days.

Whoever says: "I covenant with Allah to implement what is on my mind," and intended specific things, his vow is valid, and his intention in specifying what he intended is considered. Intention is considered in oaths and vows and specifies the general wording, and a vow is treated like an oath.