Is the statement "I pledge to myself" to stop watching pornography and masturbating for a month considered a vow (nadhr) or an oath (yameen)? What is the expiation (kaffarah) for not fulfilling it, knowing that the person who said it is 17 years old and was unaware of the rulings of vows and oaths at the time of uttering it?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
One must keep away from what Allah has forbidden, protect oneself from sins, be mindful of Allah in private and in public, and not listen to the whispers of Satan. The phrases "I pledge to myself" or "it is a commitment upon me" are neither vows () nor oaths (), so there is no expiation for violating them. However, fulfilling them is obligatory, and breaking them is a bad deed.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/132271
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 132271
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy