Question:
Assalamualaikum wbt, SS Dato’ Seri Mufti, I have a question regarding nazar. I have made a nazar if I am promoted that I would perform umrah. However, I am planning to perform the umrah in the near future since I have the opportunity to do so, although I haven’t been promoted. For your information, this is the first umrah I’ll be performing. My question is, is my nazar considered fulfilled if I perform umrah even if I haven’t been promoted? Hope for your explanation. Jazakallah khair.
Another similar question:
What is the ruling for a person who made a nazar to perform hajj this year when he hasn’t performed his obligatory hajj?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
Nazar literally means a promise to do something whether it is good or bad. While according to syara’, nazar is promising to do something which is good.
اِلْتِزَامُ قُربُةِ لَم تَتَعَيَّن فِي الشَّرْعِ، إِمَّا مُطْلَقًا، أَوْ مُعَلَّقًا عَلَى شَيْء
Obligating a qurbah action (to get closer to Allah SWT) which is not specified in syara’, whether it is absolute or with ta’liq (stating certain condition) of something. (Refer al-Mu’tamad fi al-Fiqh al-Syafie by Syeikh Muhammad al-Zuhaili (2/501))
Nazar is obligating certain worship which is originally not an obligation. Syeikh Wahbah Zuhaili states in his book, nazar is categorized into two parts; nazar mutlak (absolute promise) and nazar muqayyad (specified promise). Nazar mutlak shows gratefulness of the blessing of Allah SWT or without any reason. For example, “My nazar is to perform fasting.” Nazar muqayyad means a nazar that a certain condition is set for it, for example, “If I get a son, I will fast for 3 days.” (Refer Fiqh Islami Wa Adillatuhu, 3/537)
Basically, the act of the nazar or the worship is not a part of an obligation. For example, sunnah fasting, umrah, donations and others. These actions are permissible to be made into a nazar and they will become an obligation, for it is now a promise to Allah SWT for a blessing he received. Thus, nazar to perform such actions is permissible and it is obligatory for him to fulfil his nazar.
Allah SWT state:
وَأَوْفُوا بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ الْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْئُوْلاً
“And fulfill [every] commitment. Indeed, the commitment is ever [that about which one will be] questioned.”
Surah al-Isra’ (34)
As for nazar of something that is already an obligation according to syara’, it is impermissible. For example, nazar of wanting to fast in Ramadhan or pray 5 times a day. The nazar is invalid for it is already sanctioned in Islam and if it is not performed, then it is sinful.
The Prophet PBUH said:
عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَابِ رضي الله عنهما قال: سَمِعْتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: بُنِيَ الإِسْلاَمُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ شَهَادَةِ اَنْ لاَ اِلَهَ اِلاَّ الله وَ اَنَ مُحَمَّدًا الرَّسُولُ اللهِ وَ اِقَامِ الصَّلاَةِ وَ اِيْتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَحِجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ
“Verily, al-Islam is founded on five (pillars): testifying the fact that there is no god but Allah, establishment of prayer, payment of Zakat, fast of Ramadan and Pilgrimage to the House.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (7)
The above hadith explains that among the obligations in syara’ for every Muslim and it is impermissible to be made into a nazar. Coming back to the question discussed, the nazar made is nazar muqayyad. Nazar muqayyad means a nazar where a certain condition is set for it, for example, “If I’m promoted I’ll perform umrah.” It should be understood that nazar is only for acts of worship which are not originally obligated. First time umrah and hajj is an obligation. Nazar is not applicable for anything that is an obligation, thus, the nazar is invalid and it is unnecessary to pay the kaffarah.
Wallahua’lam.