What is the difference between a vow (nadhr), a covenant ('ahd), and repentance (tawbah) from sin?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Abandoning sins is a religious obligation. A vow to abandon them is not binding according to the majority of scholars, and thus requires no expiation. However, Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah holds that it necessitates an expiation for a broken oath, and this is more cautious. Whoever makes a covenant with Allah to abandon a sin and then commits it, must offer an expiation for a broken oath along with repentance. Repentance is a spiritual act that includes abstaining from the sin, regretting it, and resolving not to return to it. Breaking repentance only necessitates renewing it and being sincere in it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/97256
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 97256
- 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