The Ruling on One Who Made a Vow But Did not Fulfill it

Question :

A man was with a Q group and while joking with them he said about his one year old son: "If this boy lives, I will satisfy the appetites of the people of the area." The boy grew and became a man, yet he did not do anything. Now he is asking what is incumbent upon him, bearing in mind that the people of the area were few and now there are no inhabitants?

Answer:

If the statement of the questioner was made by way of vow, it is incumbent upon him to fulfill his vow by satisfying the hunger of all of his neighbors. In this case he must be sure that their number is not less than the number of inhabitants in the area at the time of the vow. This is because giving food is a way of drawing closer to Allah, Most High, and because the Prophet said:
"Whoever vowed to obey Allah, he should obey Him."

And Allah, Most High has praised those who fulfill their vows in His Words:
"They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading."

During the time of the Messenger of Allah a man made a vow to slaughter a camel in Buwanah and the Prophet 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 dience to Allah nor in matters which are not in the hands of man."

But if it was not made as a vow, but rather a promise to feed them if his son grew up, then the questioner should keep his promise, although it is not obligatory for him to do so.

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