garment, riding a beast, or divorcing a wife in a permissible manner. In this case, the person who made the vow has the choice: either 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). Or, 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 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] (34), 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...