Question
Reference number: 295456 | Slaughtered Animals, Sacrifice, Birth Sacrifices, Hunting | March 27, 2023
Does saying “if my wife gives birth to a boy, I will slaughter a sheep” constitute a vow?
Answer
This statement constitutes a vow (nadhr), even if it is not explicitly accompanied by the phrase “I make a vow to Allah.”
The Palestinian Dar al-Ifta was asked about someone who said, “if Allah grants me children, I will slaughter an animal,” without using the wording “it is a vow to Allah.” the Mufti responded that this constitutes a vow and must be fulfilled, based on the verse: “and let them fulfill their vows” (Qur’an 22:29). the person who made the vow may not eat from it, while his family may eat from it. the vow should be distributed according to the intention of the person who made it.
however, if the person intended the slaughter to be an ʿaqīqah, then it is considered an ʿaqīqah rather than a vow.