Examining the Shari'a Ruling on the Use of Vows (Nazr, Nadhr, Vowed or Promised)

Paying property or things in the way of Allah (in the cause of Allah) such as Zakat (Arabic: زکاه, that which purifies), khums (Arabic: خمس, literally one fifth), infāq (almsgiving), sacrifice (Udḥīyah or tadḥīyah Arabic: اضحیه, تضحیه), waqf (endowment, Arabic: وقف) or vow is of special importance according to the Qurʾān and Ḥadīths (aḥādīth), and it is clear that each of these has specific uses that must be consumed and spent in that way. In the meantime, a form of spending wealth in the way of Allah (in the cause of Allah) as a vow is common, which is generally believed that not only is this vow recommended by the religion, but its use (consuming the vow) is also mustaḥabb (Arabic: مستحب‎, lit. recommended) or has a religious preference. The concern of this article, which is organized by referring to library sources and by descriptive-analytical method, is the study of the recommendation (Arabic: استحباب) or religious preference of using the vowed (vows) of others. The findings of this article show that what is sought and recommended by religion is the payment of property or performing deeds in the cause of Allah as a vowed (vow), but not only there is no religious reason to recommend using the vows of others; but also, its use is permissible only for designated cases or the needy.