She Vowed to Fast, Then She Was Unable to

Question :

A woman vowed to fast for a year if she gave birth safely. The newborn has been safe and sound for a period over one year. But she says that she is unable to fast.

Answer:

There is no doubt that a vow to perform an act of obedience is a form of worship and Allah, Most High has praised those who fulfill their vows, for He, Most High says:
"They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading.

And it has been confirmed from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
"Whoever vowed to obey Allah, he should obey Him and whoever vowed to disobey Allah, he should not disobey Him."

A man vowed to slaughter a camel in Buwanah and went to the Prophet ﷺ. He asked him:
"Is there any idol from among the idols of the Jahiliyyah worshipped there?"
It was said to him: "No." He then asked:
"And is there any festival from among the festivals of the Jahiliyyah celebrated there?"
It was said: "No." So he said:
"Then fulfill your vow, because there is no fulfillment of a vow to commit an act of disobedience to Allah nor in matters which are not in the hands of man."

Since the questioner has mentioned that she vowed to fast for a year, and fasting for a whole year is a form of perpetual fasting, and fasting perpetually is hated according to the authentic. narration reported from the Prophet ﷺ , in which he said:
"Whoever fasted perpetually has neither fasted nor broken his fast.

-and there is no doubt that a hated act of worship is an act of disobedience to Allah, then there is no need to fulfill the vow to do so.

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah - may Allah have mercy on him -said: "If he vowed to perform a hated act of worship, such as standing in prayer for the whole night, or fasting every day, it is not obligatory to fulfill this vow."

Accordingly, it is an obligation upon the questioner to make atonement for an unfulfilled oath. That is to feed ten poor persons, giving each poor person half a Sa' of dates or some other staple food of the country. If she is unable to do so, she must fast for three consecutive days.

And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.