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Fatwa CenterVowing to dedicate one's child to Allaah Almighty
Question
I read the words of the wife of ‘Imran that are related by Allah, the Exalted, within the verse (which means): {[Mention, O Muhammad] when the wife of ‘Imran said, "My Lord, indeed I have pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated [for Your service], so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing." But when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord, I have delivered a female." And Allah was Most Knowing of what she delivered, "And the male is not like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her in You and [for] her descendants from Satan, the expelled [from the mercy of Allah]." So her Lord accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good manner and put her in the care of Zechariah…} [3:35-37] I asked myself why Allah, the Exalted, chose Maryam (Mary), may Allah exalt her mention, and favored her with such a refined status above all the women of the worlds. Was that because the mother of Maryam (Mary), may Allah exalt her mention, devoted her unborn child to Allah, the Exalted, and sought refuge in Him, imploring Him to safeguard her child and her offspring from the evil of the accursed Satan? Allah, the Exalted, graciously accepted her (plea) and, by His goodness, she grew up comely as He vouchsafed a goodly growth to her. Therefore, the angels gave Maryam (Mary), may Allah exalt her mention, the glad tidings, as reported in the verse that reads (what means): {[And mention] when the angels said, "O Mary, indeed Allah gives you good tidings of a word from Him, whose name will be the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary—distinguished in this world and the Hereafter and among those brought near [to Allah].} [3:45]
I was puzzled about this. Could you please help me and answer my question. If I make a vow like that of ‘Imran's wife and devote my child to Allah, the Exalted, will He bless me with a similar refined status like that of Maryam (Mary), may Allah exalt her mention? Will I receive glad tidings of having a baby boy?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
No one in our time can ever reach the refined status that Maryam (Mary), may Allaah exalt her mention, enjoyed in the Sight of Allaah, the Exalted. It was something permissible according to the legislation of the people of Maryam's mother that a person exclusively devotes his or her unborn child to the purpose of worshipping Allaah Almighty and serving His house without being distracted by any worldly affairs. In doing this, they lost the privilege of benefiting from the child in any way, even by means of enjoying hisher company.
In the Islamic Sharee'ah, however, it is impermissible for parents to make a vow to devote their child because this child is free and not a slave. Even if the child is a slave, he cannot be a slave of his parents. Such a vow is impermissible unless the parents vow to give up the privilege of enjoying the company of their child. This is the acceptable vow of the righteous people concerning their free child, as suggested by Ibn Al-‘Arabi 
.
Moreover, the concept of worship in Islam is not limited to performing acts of worship or serving the houses of Allaah Almighty. Rather, it extends to include all walks of life, as long as they conform to the Islamic Sharee'ah and are prompted by a sincere intention.
Therefore, a Muslim should not limit himself to performing devotional acts of worship and abstain from working and earning a living seeking the Grace of Allaah, the Exalted. This would be a form of monasticism, and Allaah, the Exalted, blessed us with what is better than it, i.e. monotheism.
There is no doubt that when parents strive to instill virtue and righteousness in the hearts of their children; teach them to worship Allaah, the Exalted; and urge them to acquire knowledge, teach it, and serve Islam and Muslims, they will enjoy a high rank in the Sight of Allaah, the Exalted, and in the sight of people as well. They will surely reap the fruits of such an attitude in the Worldly life and in the Hereafter as well. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things … a virtuous descendant who prays for him (for the deceased)." [Muslim]
As for the questioner's inquiry: "Why did Allaah, the Exalted, choose Maryam (Mary), may Allaah exalt her mention?" The answer to this is that Allaah, the Exalted, creates and chooses whatever He wishes. He is not questioned about what He does, but they, (i.e. human beings) will be questioned. No one can ward off His Decree, and no one can adjust His irreversible judgment.
Allaah Knows best.
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