Difference Between A Promise And A Vow
Question
Is the word promise regarded as a vow? Example – I promise that I will do… Is this a vow?
Answer
A promise is simply a statement made by someone that he will do something in the future. There is no expiation due for breaking it, although it is sinful to make a promise with the intention of breaking it.
And a vow in Shari’ah is when a person makes obligatory upon him an act of worship which
was not obligatory upon him. Thus there is a difference between a vow and a promise.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
والوعد في الاصطلاح : الإ خبار بإيصال الخير في المستقبل
والنذر اصطلاحا : إلزام مكلف مختار نفسه لله تعالى بالقول شيئا غير لازم عليه بأصل الشرع
(الموسوعة الفقهية الكويتية)
- Approved by
- Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Azaadville. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.