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Fatwa CenterFulfilling the vow of one of the parents does not avail the other
Question
A father vowed to slaughter an animal if Allaah Almighty cured his ill son. After the son was cured, the father was surprised that the mother intended the same vow, which is to slaughter a sacrifice for her son if Allaah Almighty cured him. Does slaughtering one sacrifice avail the father and the mother or should each of them slaughter a separate sacrifice although this might be hard for them?
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, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
First, we would like to draw attention to the fact that making a vow is disliked and does not avert anything of the decree of Allaah Almighty. The vow mentioned in the question is a conditional vow.
If both the father and the mother explicitly made a statement that indicates a vow, like saying: "It is due for Allaah Almighty upon me to slaughter a sacrifice for my son," or the like, then these are binding vows that should be fulfilled by each of them separately.
The following is stated in Asna Al-Matalib, combined with Rawdh At-Talib, which belongs to the Shaafi‘i school of jurisprudence:
"If one vows to slaughter a sacrifice on behalf of his son by saying: "It is due for Allaah Almighty upon me to slaughter a sacrifice for my son," then it is obligatory upon him to slaughter for the son because slaughtering for children is an act that brings one closer to Allaah Almighty."
In this case, both the father and the mother should slaughter a sheep for this vow because they both imposed an act of obedience to Allaah Almighty upon themselves. Thus, the vow of one of them does not avail the other.
However, the vow is not considered binding unless it was explicitly spoken out. If one holds the intention of vowing in his head without uttering it, then nothing is obligatory upon him.
If one is liable to a vow, then he should fulfill it, even if only in the future. If he is sure about his inability to fulfill it, then it is enough for him to offer an expiation like that of breaking an oath.
Allaah Knows best.
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