What is the ruling on making a vow to Allah that whoever breaks it must do such and such, such as saying: "If I commit this sin again, I will harm myself in a certain way"? And if one returns to the sin, must he fulfill what he vowed to Allah, or not, given that Islam prohibits self-harm?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
If someone makes a covenant with Allah to abandon a sin and then commits it, they must repent for the sin and for breaking the covenant. They also owe an expiation for a broken oath (kaffarat yamin).
Allah Almighty says: "And fulfill [every] covenant. Indeed, the covenant will be questioned about."
The expiation for a broken oath is feeding ten needy persons, or clothing them, or freeing a slave. If one cannot find [the means], then [it is] fasting for three days.
It is not permissible to harm oneself as a punishment.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
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