The Ruling on Making a Vow to Other Than Allah and is it Shirk or Not?

Question :

What is the ruling on making a vow to other than Allah?

Answer:

Making a vow to other than Allah is Shirk, since it includes glorifying the one to whom the oath is made and it is a form of drawing closer to him. And, because fulfilling it is an act of worship if the thing sworn to is an act of obedience, and worship must be for Allah Alone according to many evidences, such as the Words of Allah, Most High:
"And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ) but We revealed to him (saying): La ilaha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allah)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)."

Therefore dedicating it to other than Allah is an act of Shirk.

Question :

Regarding making a vow to other than Allah, there are a group of people who say: No vow should be made to other than Allah, Most High and a vow to other than Allah, Most High is Shirk and disbelief, because it is an act of worship and worship to other than Him, Most High is an act of disbelief. Another group says: Making a vow to them (i.e., those other than Allah) is a righteous deed for which reward and recompense are given. What is the truth in this matter?

Answer:

Making a vow is a form of worship, which is the right of Allah, Alone and it is not permissible to dedicate any act of worship to other than Him. Whoever vows to other than Him has dedicated an act of worship which is the right of Allah, Most High to the one to whom he made the vow. Anyone who dedicates any type of worship, such as a vow, sacrifice, or anything else to other than Allah, is considered to have associated a deity other than Allah with Allah, and is included in the generality of the Words of Allah, Most Glorified:
"Verily, whosoever sets up partners (in worship) with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise to him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zälimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) there are no helpers.

All of those among the legally accountable Muslims who believe that it is permissible to make vows and to slaughter to the inhabitants of the grave this belief of his is major Shirk which removes him from the pale of Islam. The one who holds such a view must be called up to repent for three days, and relations with him must be severed. He either repents, or, if not, he must be killed.

As for his son taking something from his wealth with which to build his future and inheriting from him after his death in the same matter which was asked about, this depends upon knowledge of the true state of the father and the situation in which he died: If his father died upon this belief and it is not known that he repented, then he does not inherit him, according to the words of the Prophet ﷺ :
"The Muslim does not inherit from the disbeliever, nor does the disbeliever inherit from the Muslim."

It is permissible for his son to take from his wealth while he is alive as much as he likes to give him. Likewise, it is permissible for him to take what is reasonable for his needs from the wealth of his son without his knowledge, if he is poor and unable to attain the means which would alleviate his need of it, according to the Hadith of 'A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in the story of Hind bint "Utbah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of Abu Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with him. She complained to the Prophet that Abu Sufyan, may Allah be pleased with him, did not give her enough for herself and her children and the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Take from his wealth according to what is reasonable to meet your needs and those of your children."

From this it is clear that the truth is with the first group, who said that it is not permissible to make a vow, except to Allah, Most High and that a vow to other than Allah, Most High is an act of disbelief and Shirk.

And Allah is the Granter of success. May peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family and Companions.