Is it obligatory to fulfill a vow to pray twenty rak'ahs and recite three juz' (parts) of the Qur'an - on the day of committing a sin - in two cases? And is it permissible to postpone the fulfillment of the vow? And what is the ruling on repeating the vow with the repetition of the sin? And does looking at the hair of a foreign woman or the 'awrah (private parts) of a man necessitate the fulfillment of this vow?
A Muslim must obey Allah and be conscious of Him, whether they make a vow or not. Their fear of a vow should not be greater than their fear of their Lord. The aforementioned vow is a "vow of obstinacy and anger," and its ruling is that of an oath. If one does not fulfill it, an expiation for an oath becomes binding upon them. The person who made the vow has the choice between fulfilling it or paying the expiation. Breaking this vow depends on the intention at the time of uttering it. If one intended specific forms of haram, then they do not break the vow by looking at other things, such as looking at a female presenter, a female relative, or a tear in their father's clothes, because the intention was for alluring situations or pornographic images. The most important thing is to remain steadfast in repentance and strive against the soul that incites to evil.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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