Is performing a vowed act of worship (Nadr) before its specifically vowed time sufficient?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Vows

Book 61 · Issue 1 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

If a person vows to fast a specific month or perform Hajj in a specific year and completes the act before that specified time, the act is not considered fulfilled. This is based on the principle that the vowed act is understood to be bound by its prescribed legal context. If one were to fast before Ramadan, it would not suffice; similarly, performing the vowed act early does not suffice because the condition of performing it at its stipulated time has been breached. This is analogous to an act not performed at all.

Supporting text

Abu Yusuf holds that it is sufficient, reasoning by analogy to a situation where one swears to pay a debt by a certain time and pays it earlier.