Forming a Commitment

إِذَا قَالَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَيَّ الْمَشْيُ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ وَ هُوَ مُحْرِمٌ بِحَجَّةٍ أَوْ عَلَيَّ هَدْيُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى يَقُولَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ الْمَشْيُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ أَوْ يَقُولَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أُحْرِمَ بِحَجَّةٍ أَوْ يَقُولَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ هَدْيُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا إِنْ لَمْ أَفْعَلْ كَذَا وَ كَذَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘A man says, ‘It is obligatory on me to walk to the house of Allah’ when he is in the state of Ihram for al-Hajj. He may say, ‘It is obligatory on me to offer such and such offering.’ However, he does not owe anything until he says, ‘It is obligatory on me from Allah to walk to His hou

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ قَالَ عَلَيَّ نَذْرٌ قَالَ لَيْسَ النَّذْرُ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى يُسَمِّيَ شَيْئاً لِلَّهِ صِيَاماً أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَوْ هَدْياً أَوْ حَجّاً.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says that there is a vow, a commitment on him (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect until one specifies it, like fasting, charity, a gift or al-Hajj.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ عَلَيَّ نَذْرٌ قَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى يُسَمِّيَ النَّذْرَ وَ يَقُولَ عَلَيَّ صَوْمٌ لِلَّهِ أَوْ يَتَصَدَّقَ أَوْ يُعْتِقَ أَوْ يُهْدِيَ هَدْياً وَ إِنْ قَالَ الرَّجُلُ أَنَا أُهْدِي هَذَا الطَّعَامَ فَلَيْسَ هَذَا بِشَيْ‌ءٍ إِنَّمَا تُهْدَى الْبُدْنُ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says that there is a vow, a commitment on him. He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect until he says, “There is fasting, or paying charity, or freeing a slave, or offering an animal offering.” If a man says, “I give this food as an offering

كَانَتْ عِنْدِي جَارِيَةٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَارْتَفَعَ طَمْثُهَا فَجَعَلْتُ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ نَذْراً إِنْ هِيَ حَاضَتْ فَعَلِمْتُ بَعْدُ أَنَّهَا حَاضَتْ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَجْعَلَ النَّذْرَ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ أَنَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَأَجَابَنِي إِنْ كَانَتْ حَاضَتْ قَبْلَ النَّذْرِ فَلَا عَلَيْكَ وَ إِنْ كَانَتْ حَاضَتْ بَعْدَ النَّذْرِ فَعَلَيْكَ.

“I had a girl in al-Madinah whose Hayd (menses) stopped. I then made a vow, a commitment before Allah for His sake if her Hayd (menses) becomes normal, I then fulfill the vow and commitment. I then learned that she experiences Hayd (menses) before my fulfilling the vow and commitment. I wrote to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.),

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي شُكْراً لِلَّهِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ أُصَلِّيهِمَا فِي الْحَضَرِ وَ السَّفَرِ أَ فَأُصَلِّيهِمَا فِي السَّفَرِ بِالنَّهَارِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنِّي أَكْرَهُ الْإِيجَابَ أَنْ يُوجِبَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ قُلْتُ إِنِّي لَمْ أَجْعَلْهُمَا لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ إِنَّمَا جَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ عَلَى نَفْسِي أُصَلِّيهِمَا شُكْراً لِلَّهِ وَ لَمْ أُوجِبْهُمَا عَلَى نَفْ

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I have made it upon myself to perform two Rak‘at Salat (prayer) as thanksgiving to Allah at home or on a journey’ if on a journey I can perform them during the day. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘I dislike a man’s making it obligatory upon him

فَلْيَقُمْ فِي الْمِعْبَرِ قَائِماً حَتَّى يَجُوزَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’ Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali, Alayhi al-Salam, was asked about a man who made a vow and commitment to walk to the house and he arrived on a crossing. He (the Imam) said, ’He must remain standing until there is room to cross the crossing.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ رَجُلٌ كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِ حَجَّةُ الْإِسْلَامِ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَحُجَّ فَقِيلَ لَهُ تَزَوَّجْ ثُمَّ حُجَّ فَقَالَ إِنْ تَزَوَّجْتُ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَحُجَّ فَغُلَامِي حُرٌّ فَتَزَوَّجَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَحُجَّ فَقَالَ أُعْتِقَ غُلَامُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَمْ يُرِدْ بِعِتْقِهِ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ نَذْرٌ فِي طَاعَةِ اللَّهِ وَ الْحَجُّ أَحَقُّ مِنَ‌ التَّزْوِيجِ وَ أَوْجَبُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ التَّزْوِيجِ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ ا

“I once asked abu Ibrahim, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who owed al-Hajjah al-Islam and wanted to perform al-Hajj. He was told to become married first, then perform al-Hajj. He said, ‘If I become married before al-Hajj my slave is free.’ He married before performing al-Hajj. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must fre

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَقُولُ لِلشَّيْ‌ءِ يَبِيعُهُ أَنَا أُهْدِيهِ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ الْحَرَامِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ كَذِبَةٌ كَذَبَهَا[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who buys something and says, ‘I gift it to the Sacred House of Allah.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not have any valid effect. It is a lie that he has spoken.’”

إِنْ قُلْتَ لِلَّهِ عَلَيَّ فَكَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘If you say, ‘It is from Allah upon me’ then its expiation is like that for an oath.’”

كَتَبَ بُنْدَارُ مَوْلَى إِدْرِيسَ‌ يَا سَيِّدِي نَذَرْتُ أَنْ أَصُومَ كُلَّ يَوْمِ سَبْتٍ فَإِنْ أَنَا لَمْ أَصُمْهُ مَا يَلْزَمُنِي مِنَ الْكَفَّارَةِ فَكَتَبَ وَ قَرَأْتُهُ لَا تَتْرُكْهُ إِلَّا مِنْ عِلَّةٍ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ صَوْمُهُ فِي سَفَرٍ وَ لَا مَرَضٍ إِلَّا أَنْ تَكُونَ نَوَيْتَ ذَلِكَ‌[2] وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ أَفْطَرْتَ مِنْهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلَّةٍ فَتَصَدَّقْ بِعَدَدِ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ لِسَبْعَةِ مَسَاكِينَ‌[3] نَس

“Bundar, maxvla of Idris, once wrote, ‘My master, I made a vow and commitment to fast every Saturday; and if I did not fast what is the expiation?’ He (the Imam) wrote and I read it, ‘Do not stop fasting except because of illness, and you do not have to fast when on a journey or during your illness unless you had the i

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع رَجُلٌ جَعَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ نَذْراً إِنْ قَضَى اللَّهُ حَاجَتَهُ أَنْ يَتَصَدَّقَ بِدَرَاهِمَ‌[4] فَقَضَى اللَّهُ حَاجَتَهُ فَصَيَّرَ الدَّرَاهِمَ ذَهَباً وَ وَجَّهَهَا إِلَيْكَ أَ يَجُوزُ ذَلِكَ أَوْ يُعِيدُ فَقَالَ يُعِيدُ.

“I once asked abu al-Hassan, Alayhi al-Salam, about the case of a man who has made a vow and commitment that if Allah makes his wish to come true, he will pay a certain amount of dirham as charity. Allah then made his wish come true. He then made the dirham into gold and has sent to you; if that is sufficient or he has

أَنْ يَصُومَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ دَائِماً مَا بَقِيَ فَوَافَقَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ يَوْمَ عِيدِ فِطْرٍ أَوْ أَضْحًى أَوْ أَيَّامَ التَّشْرِيقِ أَوِ السَّفَرَ أَوْ مَرِضَ هَلْ عَلَيْهِ صَوْمُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ أَوْ قَضَاؤُهُ أَوْ كَيْفَ يَصْنَعُ يَا سَيِّدِي فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ قَدْ وَضَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ الصِّيَامَ فِي هَذِهِ الْأَيَّامِ كُلِّهَا وَ يَصُومُ يَوْماً بَدَلَ يَوْمٍ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ كَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَسْأَلُ

“My master, a man has made a vow and commitment to fast on Fridays all the time. What happens if such days coincide with the day of ‘Id of Fitr, or Adha’, or days of al-Tashriq or a journey or illness; if he owes to fast on such days or its Qada’ (compensatory fasting) and what must he do, O my master?’ He (the Imam) w

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ كَفَّارَةِ النَّذْرِ فَقَالَ كَفَّارَةُ النَّذْرِ كَفَّارَةُ الْيَمِينِ وَ مَنْ نَذَرَ هَدْياً فَعَلَيْهِ نَاقَةٌ يُقَلِّدُهَا وَ يُشْعِرُهَا وَ يَقِفُ بِهَا بِعَرَفَةَ وَ مَنْ نَذَرَ جَزُوراً فَحَيْثُ شَاءَ نَحَرَهُ‌[1].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the expiation because of a vow and commitment. He (the Imam) said, ‘Kaffarah (expiation) for a vow and commitment is like the expiation because of an oath. If one makes a vow and commitment to offer an animal for sacrifice he must find a camel, he must mark and collar it and s

قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَقُولُ عَلَيَّ نَذْرٌ وَ لَا يُسَمِّي شَيْئاً[2] قَالَ كَفٌّ مِنْ بُرٍّ غُلِّظَ عَلَيْهِ أَوْ شُدِّدَ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who says, ‘There is a vow and commitment on me’, but does not specify. He (the Imam) said, ‘He owes one handful of wheat, regardless, he has taken it seriously or with great emphasis.’”

يُعْطِي مَنْ يَصُومُ عَنْهُ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ مُدَّيْنِ.

“About the case of a man who makes a vow and commitment to fast and is not able to do so, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘He must pay someone to fast for him and for every day it is two mud (a certain measurement) of food.’”

سَأَلَ عَبَّادُ بْنُ مَيْمُونٍ‌[3] وَ أَنَا حَاضِرٌ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ نَذْراً صَوْماً وَ أَرَادَ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ جُنْدَبٍ سَمِعْتُ مَنْ رَوَاهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَنَّهُ سُئِلَ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ نَذْراً صَوْماً فَحَضَرَتْهُ نِيَّتُهُ فِي زِيَارَةِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ يَخْرُجُ وَ لَا يَصُومُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ فَإِذَا رَجَعَ قَضَى ذَلِ

“’Abbad ibn Maymun asked (abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.)) when I was present, about the case of a man who made a vow and commitment to fast and wanted to leave for Makkah. ‘Abd Allah ibn Jundab said, ‘I heard the one who narrated from abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who was asked about a man who made a vow and commitment to fast. He bec

كُلُّ مَنْ عَجَزَ عَنْ نَذْرٍ نَذَرَهُ فَكَفَّارَتُهُ كَفَّارَةُ يَمِينٍ‌[4].

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Whoever makes a vow and commitment to fast and then fails to do so, the expiation on him is like the Kaffarah (expiation) for an oath.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَ أُمِّي إِنِّي جَعَلْتُ عَلَى نَفْسِي مَشْياً إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ قَالَ كَفِّرْ يَمِينَكَ‌[1] فَإِنَّمَا جَعَلْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ يَمِيناً وَ مَا جَعَلْتَهُ لِلَّهِ فَفِ بِهِ‌[2].

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I have made a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must pay expiation for your oath, because you have made it on yourself and you have not made for Allah; you must then fulfill.

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ نَذَرَ أَنْ يَمْشِيَ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ حَافِياً قَالَ فَلْيَمْشِ فَإِذَا تَعِبَ فَلْيَرْكَبْ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah barefoot. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must walk and if he becomes tired, he can ride.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ مَشْياً إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ وَ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ قَالَ يَحُجُّ رَاكِباً.

“I once asked one of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, about the case of a man who has made a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah but cannot do so. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can perform al-Hajj and ride.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ جَعَلَ عَلَيْهِ الْمَشْيَ إِلَى بَيْتِ اللَّهِ فَلَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ قَالَ فَلْيَحُجَّ رَاكِباً.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes a vow and commitment to walk to the House of Allah but cannot do so. He (the Imam) said, ‘He must perform al-Hajj riding.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَحْلِفُ بِالنَّذْرِ وَ نِيَّتُهُ فِي يَمِينِهِ الَّتِي حَلَفَ عَلَيْهَا دِرْهَمٌ أَوْ أَقَلُّ قَالَ إِذَا لَمْ يَجْعَلْ لِلَّهِ فَلَيْسَ بِشَيْ‌ءٍ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, when he (the Imam) was asked about the case of a man who took an oath to make a vow and commitment and his intention in his oath is about one dirham or less. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he has not made it for Allah, then it does not have any valid effect.’”

كُنَّا عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جَمَاعَةً إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْ مَوَالِي أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَسَلَّمَ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جَلَسَ وَ بَكَى ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أَعْطَيْتُ اللَّهَ عَهْداً إِنْ عَافَانِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ كُنْتُ أَخَافُهُ عَلَى نَفْسِي أَنْ أَتَصَدَّقَ بِجَمِيعِ مَا أَمْلِكُ وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَافَانِي مِنْهُ وَ قَدْ حَوَّلْتُ عِيَالِي مِنْ مَنْزِلِي

“Once we were with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), in a group when a man came who was of the Mawali of abu Ja‘far (a.s.). He offered Salam (the phrase of offering greeting of peace), sat down, wept and said, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. I made a covenant with Allah that if He gives me recovery from

إِنَّ أُمِّي كَانَتْ جَعَلَتْ عَلَيْهَا نَذْراً نَذَرَتْ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي بَعْضِ وُلْدِهَا فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ كَانَتْ تَخَافُهُ عَلَيْهِ أَنْ تَصُومَ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي تَقَدَّمَ فِيهِ عَلَيْهَا مَا بَقِيَتْ فَخَرَجَتْ مَعَنَا إِلَى مَكَّةَ فَأَشْكَلَ عَلَيْنَا صِيَامُهَا فِي السَّفَرِ فَلَمْ تَدْرِ تَصُومُ أَوْ تُفْطِرُ فَسَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ لَا تَصُومُ فِي السَّفَرِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ

“My mother had made a vow and commitment. She had made a commitment for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, about one of her children because of fear of something for him. She said that from that day on, she will fast all the time as long as she lives. She came out with us to Makkah, her fasting on the journey made us

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَتْ لِي جَارِيَةٌ حُبْلَى فَنَذَرْتُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِنْ وَلَدَتْ غُلَاماً أَنْ أُحِجَّهُ أَوْ أَحُجَّ عَنْهُ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا نَذَرَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِي ابْنٍ لَهُ إِنْ هُوَ أَدْرَكَ أَنْ يَحُجَّ عَنْهُ أَوْ يُحِجَّهُ فَمَاتَ الْأَبُ وَ أَدْرَكَ الْغُلَامُ بَعْدُ فَأَتَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص الْغُلَامُ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُحَجَّ

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of my girl who was pregnant and I made a vow and commitment for Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, that if she gives birth to a boy, I will help him to perform al-Hajj or I will perform al-Hajj on his behalf. He (the Imam) said, ‘A man made a vow and commitment for