If a person makes a vow to renounce an act...

If a person makes a vow to renounce an act, without setting any time limit, and then performs that act because of forgetfulness, helplessness or carelessness or compulsion, or ignorance, it is not obligatory for him to give a Kaffarah, but after the first instance, if he repeats the act again at any time, voluntarily, he must give Kaffarah for it.

If a person a vow he would spend some amount of money on the shrine of one of the Imam or the descendants of the Imams, without having any particular project in mind, he should spend it on the repairs, lighting, carpeting etc. of the shrine. And if this is not possible, or the shrine is needless, it should be spend for its needy pilgrims.

If a person makes a vow to use something in the name of the holy prophet (s.a.w.a), Imam or their descendants or passed scholars or the like, and has an intention to put it to a specific use, he should spend it for that very purpose.

And if he has not made an intention to put it to any, specific use, it is better that he should use it for a purpose which has some relationship with that person, for example, he should spend it on poor pilgrims of that Imam, or on the shrine of the Imam, like its repairs etc. or for such purposes which would glorify the memory of that person.

If a father or a mather makes a vow that he/she will marry their daughter to a Sayyid, the option rests with the girl when she attains the age of puberty, and the vow made by the parents has no significance. When a person makes a covenant with Allah, that if his particular lawful need is fulfilled, he will perform a good act, it is necessary for him to fulfil the covenant.

Similarly, if he makes a covenant, without having any wish, that he will perform a good act, the performing of that act becomes obligatory upon him. As in the case of vow, a formal declaration should be pronounced in the case of covenant (`Ahd) as will. And it is not necessary for the covenant to be a better act in Shri`ah, but it is enough that it is not forbidden in Shar`ah, or has a preference according to the wise, or is advisable for the person.

If after making a covenant, it happens to be no more advisable or preferable, it is not necessary to act according to it, even if it has become Makruh. If a person does not act according to the covenant made by him, he has committed a sin and should give a Kaffarah for it, i.e. he should either feed sixty poor persons, or fast consecutively for two months, or set free a slave.…