Prophet Muhammad ﷺ strictly forbade believers to make conditional vows (Nadhr) for we are too small to bargain with Allah. And even of do make conditional vows, these are never entertained. This saying is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari as Hadith number 6608, given herein under:
The Hadith (Sahih al-Bukhari #6608)
Narrated by Ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنه): The Prophet ﷺ forbade the making of vows and said:
“It does not bring about anything (i.e. it does not change destiny), it only extracts from the miserly person.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6608, Sahih Muslim 1639)
Meaning of the Hadith
- Nadhr (نذر) means: “A conditional promise made to Allah — e.g., ‘If Allah cures me / grants me success, I will fast for ten days or give charity.’”
- The Prophet ﷺ forbade this practice because:
- It does not influence Allah’s decree or destiny.
- It comes from a bargaining mindset — as if Allah only deserves worship when He grants a favor.
It often springs from miserliness or reluctance to do good voluntarily — one only promises charity if Allah fulfills their wish.
Evidence from the Qur’an
- Surah Al-Insān (76:7)
- “They fulfill their vows and fear a Day whose evil will be widespread.”
- This verse praises those who already made vows sincerely for the sake of Allah alone, not conditionally.
- But elsewhere, Allah discouraged conditional vows tied to worldly gain.
- Surah Al-Hajj (22:29)
- “Then let them complete their prescribed duties and fulfill their vows.”
- Again, this refers to those who made lawful, righteous vows during acts of worship — not those bargaining with Allah.
- Qur’an on Destiny (Qadar):
- “No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah.” (64:11)
- "Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed.” (9:51)
- These verses show that vows cannot alter divine decree — they cannot bring benefit or avert harm.
Other Hadiths Supporting This Meaning
- The Prophet ﷺ said:
- “A vow neither brings good nor averts destiny, but through it, something is extracted from the miserly person.” - Sahih Muslim (1640).
- This confirms that making a vow does not change what Allah has already decreed.
- The Prophet ﷺ also said:
- “Do not make vows, for vows have no effect against destiny; they only make the miser give (something) he would not have given before.”- Sahih al-Bukhari (6694):
What the Prophet ﷺ Prohibited / not Prohibited
- The Prophet did not prohibit: Fulfilling a vow once it’s made. (If someone says “I will fast for Allah,” and they say it sincerely, it must be fulfilled.)
- The Prophet prohibited:
- Making conditional vows to influence fate.
- Example: “If I pass my exam, I’ll sacrifice a goat.”
- This turns worship into a transaction instead of sincere devotion.
Wisdom Behind the Prohibition of conditional vows
- Vows don’t change Qadar - Everything is decreed; Allah cannot be ‘bribed’ or negotiated with.
- True devotion is unconditional - A believer worships and gives charity out of gratitude, not bargaining.
- It reflects mistrust in Allah’s wisdom. - Vows often arise when people feel uncertain and try to ‘secure’ divine help.
- It burdens the person unnecessarily.
- Once vowed, one is religiously obligated to fulfill it — and may sin if they fail.
Lessons and Relevance for Muslims Today
1. Don’t bargain with Allah - Saying “If You heal me, I’ll pray or donate” is not proper adab (etiquette). Worship should be unconditional.
2. Be generous without conditions - The Prophet ﷺ said Allah loves voluntary charity and deeds done with sincerity, not calculation.
3. Trust Allah’s decree (Qadar) - What will happen is already written — vows do not change it.
4. Avoid innovated practices Many Muslims make vows at shrines or graves, promising money or sacrifices — this contradicts Tawḥīd and this hadith.
5. Gratitude, not transaction - Do good as thanks to Allah, not as a deal with Him.
This Hadith promotes performing acts of goodness and charity unconditionally, without making them dependent on a specific worldly result, because vows can't "force" an outcome from Allah.
In view of the Prophetic caution and the explanation of the Hadith thereof, we should understand that all good deeds and acts of charity be undertaken purely to please Allah - and these should never be dovetailed with any worldly needs. We should also understand that that whatever is to be done, will be - conditional vows cannot alter the Divine order. Instead, one should supplicate to Allah for redress of one's grievances abut never make a vow to do an act of charity as a thank you to Allah.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.
For more hadiths on varying subjects, refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors. If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing. one may also consult local Muslim Imaan of the masjid for more clarification.
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