Concerning Vows

A close friend of mine committed a serious lie and, feeling the guilt of this sin, repented and vowed to Allah (for the sake of having this sin forgiven) that he would either devote his life to knowledge in the service of deen by either seeking the path of sacred knowledge or by making an intellectual contribution and service to Islam through pursuing a PhD university degree in Islamic studies. Now that he is in university and almost done with a BA degree in Islamic studies, he is considering fields of knowledge outside of Islamic studies. Is he permitted to gain professional qualifications in other fields as well as Islamic studies? If he desires not to follow through with his Islamic studies, is there a means of expiation that will allow him to escape the limitations of his vow, especially since he now discovers that there is little job opportunity, scope, and a lack of secure income in this field? He is indeed a pious, God-fearing, and stubborn man, and will not forsake this vow no matter what, unless the shariah allows him a means of expiation. Also, although his parents grant him permission, they are disappointed and averse to him pursuing further Islamic studies and are opposed to him devoting himself fully to the path of traditional sacred knowledge. What options does he have?

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. May his abundant blessings be showered on his beloved prophet, the best of creation.

An essential condition for the validity of a vow and subsequent obligatory nature of the fulfillment thereof, is the act upon which the vow was made must be a primary act of devotional worship (‘ibaadah maqsoodah). By primary it is meant that ‘in and of itself’ the act must be devotional and not a means towards other worships. Examples of these are prayer, fasting, I’tikaaf and charity to the poor.

In the case of a vow made upon a secondary form of worship such as wudu, building a masjid or hospital, or visiting a sick person, none of these will be considered vows, nor will they be binding. [Ibn Abideen]

Pursuing a Phd in Islamic studies, although a service to Islam no doubt, is not an act of devotional worship as outlined above. As such, it is not binding on your friend to bring this to completion. Nor is there any expiation necessary upon him for not doing so.

And Allah knows best,

Yusuf Mullan,

http://www.shariahprogram.ca/ 

ومن شروطه أن يكون قربة مقصودة فلا يصح النذر بعيادة المريض ، وتشييع الجنازة ، والوضوء ، والاغتسال ، ودخول المسجد ، ومس المصحف ، والأذان ، وبناء الرباطات والمساجد وغير ذلك ، وإن كانت قربا إلا أنها غير مقصودة ا هـ فهذا صريح في أن الشرط كون المنذور نفسه عبادة مقصودة لا ما كان من جنسه

"Indeed this discipline of ours is from cradle to grave. Whoever intends to leave this knowledge of ours for one moment, let him leave it now!"

Mohammed Ibn al-Hassan ash-Shaybani

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