What is the expiation for a vow that cannot be fulfilled, and what is the meaning of "if it is not named" mentioned in the Hadith: "The expiation for a vow if it is not named is the expiation for an oath"?
Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 2026
If a person who made a vow is unable to fulfill it, they must offer an expiation for a broken oath (kaffarat ); this is based on the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) saying: "Whoever makes a vow they cannot fulfill, its expiation is the expiation for a broken oath." And also based on his (peace be upon him) saying: "The expiation for a vow, if it is not specified, is the expiation for a broken oath." However, if the person who made the vow specified it and is then unable to fulfill it, they must also offer an expiation for a broken oath.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported
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