upon himself, and therefore he must fulfil it. As for what the sister has mentioned—that she vowed to fast three months, namely Rajab, Shaʿban and Ramadan—Ramadan is already obligatory for her in the very law itself. Once she has also vowed it, it becomes binding on her from two angles: the original legal ruling and the vow. She must therefore fast it. As for fasting Rajab and Shaʿban, these become obligatory for her only by virtue of the vow, and she is required to fast them so long as she has vowed to fast Rajab, Shaʿban and Ramadan, for this is a vow of obedience.

If she specified a particular year—saying, for example, “in the year such-and-such” —then she must fast Rajab and Shaʿban of that very year. If, however, she vowed to fast Rajab and Shaʿban without fixing a year, she may fast Rajab and Shaʿban in any year, and likewise Ramadan whenever it comes.

In short, she must carry out this vow even if it is difficult for her, because she herself imposed it upon herself. She is to fast as long as she is able, even if there is hardship. Fasting every Monday and Thursday, as she suggested, will not suffice; she must fast the months of Rajab, Shaʿban and Ramadan. Nor will feeding the poor discharge the vow, for she is capable of fasting, albeit with difficulty.

Question: With regard to Ramadan, perhaps she has already fasted it, saying, “I have fulfilled my obligation,” meaning she does not intend to fast another Ramadan for the vow. As for Rajab and Shaʿban, if she did not designate a specific year and then fasts them, would it be permissible, for instance, to fast Rajab this year and Shaʿban the next?

Answer: If what she intended was to fast Rajab of one year and Shaʿban of the following year consecutively, then she is required to fast them—Rajab and Shaʿban—consecutively. But if she