fulfillment, and in it there is fulfillment; and whatever is a vow in the disobedience of God, there is no fulfillment in it, and he shall expiate it with what one expiates an oath." This is a definitive text. Furthermore, a vow is an oath [by evidence of what was narrated] (26) from the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) that he said: "A vow is an oath" (27). The Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said to the sister of Uqba when she vowed to walk to the Sacred House of God, [and when she vowed to walk to the Sacred House of God] (28), and she was unable to do so: "She shall expiate her oath." This is authentic, narrated by Abu Dawud (29). In another narration: "And she shall fast three days." Ahmad said: "This is the opinion I follow." Ibn Abbas said regarding the woman who vowed to slaughter her son: "Expiate your oath" (30). If one swears to commit an act of disobedience, the expiation becomes incumbent upon him; likewise (31) if he vows it. As for the hadiths [cited by our opponents], their meaning is: There is no fulfillment of a vow in the disobedience of God, and there is no disagreement regarding this; it has come stated explicitly as such in the narration of Muslim. This is further indicated by the fact that the context of the hadith states: "And there is no oath in cutting off family ties" (32), meaning one should not fulfill it. Even if the expiation was not specified in their hadiths, it has been specified in our hadiths. If he commits what he vowed of disobedience, there is no expiation upon him, just as if he swore that he would commit an act of disobedience and then committed it. It is also possible that the expiation is binding upon him because the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) specified the expiation therein and prohibited the commission of the disobedience. The fifth category is that which is permissible (mubah), such as wearing a garment, riding a beast, or divorcing a wife in a permissible manner; the one who vows this has the choice regarding it, whether to perform it, and thus he fulfills his vow; for it was narrated that a woman came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) and said: "I have vowed to beat on your head with a tambourine." The Messenger of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: "Fulfill your vow." Narrated by Abu Dawud (33). Furthermore, if one were to swear to perform a permissible act, he fulfills his oath by performing it, so likewise is the case if he vows it; for a vow is like an oath. If he wishes, he may abandon it, and upon him is the expiation of an oath. It is also derived that there is no expiation in it, for our scholars have said regarding one who vows to perform i'tikaf (seclusion in a mosque) or to pray in a specific mosque: he may perform the prayer and the i'tikaf in another, and there is no expiation. Similarly, one who vows to give all of his wealth in charity, the charity of one-third of it satisfies him without expiation. This is similar to that. Malik and al-Shafi'i said: His vow is not binding, because of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him): "There is no vow except for what is sought thereby for the sake of God." It was narrated that Ibn Abbas said: While the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) was delivering a sermon, he noticed a man standing, and he asked about him. They said: "It is Abu Isra'il, he vowed to stand in the sun, not to seek shade, not to speak, and to fast." The Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) said: "Command him [to sit, to seek shade], to speak, and to complete his fast." Narrated by al-Bukhari. From Anas, who said: A woman vowed to walk to the Sacred House of God (35), and the Prophet of God (peace and blessings of God be upon him) was asked about that, so he said: "God is indeed free of need for her walking; command her to ride." Al-Tirmidhi (36) said: This is a hasan (good) (37) authentic (38) hadith, and he did not command an expiation. It was also narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of God be upon him) saw a man being supported between two men, and he asked about him, and they said: "He vowed to perform Hajj walking." He said: "God is indeed free of need for this man torturing himself; command him to ride." Agreed upon (39), and he did not command him to offer an expiation, and because it is a vow that does not necessitate...