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Doubting whether one made vow or not

Question

Assalaamu alaykum, Shaykh. I would like to ask you a question. First of all, I am a student. In my early years, I was always hard to wake up, to the point that I would miss the morning prayer frequenty, but I would still pray around 6AM. So I think (I am still in doubt; I am not sure whether I did do it or not); it appears in my mind that one day I made the vow that the next day, I would wake up early and pray the morning prayer in the mosque, but from what I remember, I did not wake up early nor prayed the morning prayer in the mosque. I want to say that I still have doubts about it; is this just Waswaas (whispering) from the devil, or did I really make a vow? I really need your help in this matter; should I offer an expiation, like by feeding 10 poor people or so? Thank you, and I am really sorry.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

You are not required to do anything in this case, because a vow does not become effective just because of doubting that you made a vow.

In principle, you are acquitted from sin, and you should not rely except on what you are certain of.

As long as you doubt whether you made a vow or not, then you are not required to do anything.

Allah knows best.

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