asks whether she is obliged to continue with this vowed fast despite her husband’s opposition and her own frail health, or whether she may offer the expiation for an oath and be released from it, or make up the fast later, outside its appointed time and on non-consecutive days, or what, exactly, she should do.

Answer:
First: It must be pointed out that taking on a vow is disliked—indeed, it may even be forbidden—because it binds a Muslim to something he might later be unable to perform, burdening him with an obligation from which he was originally free.

A Muslim should perform good deeds—fasting and otherwise—without resorting to vows, remaining at ease: if he wishes he may do them, and if he wishes he may leave them. Once he makes a vow, however, he has bound himself, and it becomes incumbent upon him to fulfil it if it is a vow of obedience. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever vows to obey Allah must obey Him,” and he also said, “Fulfil your vow.” Allah, Most High, likewise says, “They fulfil their vows” (al-Insan 76:7); and He says, “Let them fulfil their vows” (al-Hajj 22:29); and He says, “Whatever you spend or whatever vow you make, surely Allah knows it” (al-Baqarah 2:270).

Thus, when a vow of obedience has been made, it becomes binding and must be acted upon. Before making such a pledge, however, a Muslim should avoid imposing it upon himself.

In the case mentioned by the questioner: she vowed to fast the first ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah every year. This is a vow of obedience, and she is required to honour it, for she vowed to fast those ten days. Fasting the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah is in itself a virtuous act, recommended even without a vow; once it has been vowed it becomes obligatory. She must therefore fulfil her vow and fast the ten days of Dhu al-Hijjah from