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Is one obligated to fulfill a vow to fast for ten years, memorize the entire Quran, spend a large sum of money, and perform Umrah, if that vow is one of hardship?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Embarking on a conditional vow is disliked (makrooh). If one vows an act of obedience to Allah, they are obligated to fulfill it. Memorizing the Quran, performing Umrah, spending in charity, and fasting are generally not difficult matters. Jurists have stipulated the obligation to continue fasting for one who has vowed to fast for specific years, with the exception of the Eid days and the Days of Tashreeq. If you intend to fast consecutively, then consecutive fasting is binding upon you. However, if you do not intend anything, then consecutive fasting is not binding, and it is permissible for you to fast consecutively or separately, though the Hanbalis hold that consecutive fasting is obligatory for one who vows an absolute fast. If a person is unable to fast due to old age or a chronic illness from which there is no hope of recovery, then they must offer an expiation for breaking an oath.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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