What should one do who vowed to pay money to a specific entity, but was unable to contact it after years? Is it permissible to give this vow to the needy?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The basic principle is that a vow should be fulfilled for the designated party. However, if that is not possible, it is permissible to spend it on the poor and needy. As for the vow of a gift, it is considered a vow of a permissible act, which, according to the preponderant opinion, is neither binding nor obligatory to fulfill, because what can sometimes be an act of worship and sometimes not, is not made binding by a vow.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/194648
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 194648
- 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