If I made a vow and did not fulfill it, do I owe expiation?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Fulfilling a promise is recommended (mustahabb) and not obligatory () according to the majority of scholars. One who fails to fulfill it incurs no sin or expiation, but rather has committed something disliked () in a minor sense (karahah tanzih). Some scholars, however, are of the view that fulfilling it becomes binding if failure to do so results in harm to the one to whom the promise was made.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/118155
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 118155
- 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