[Q 455] Ruling on Nazar and Mannat at Shrines, Shar‘i and ‘Urfi Vows in Hanafi Fiqh, Nazar, Niyaz, and Permissibility Explained

QUESTION:

Shaykh, I hope you are well. I wanted to ask: what is the ruling in Hanafi Fiqh regarding making nazar (vows) and niyaz (offerings), or pledging vows at shrines?

ANSWER:

Meaning and concept of Mannat (vow):
Among us, two types of vows are common: (1) Mannat Shar‘i (Shar‘i vow), and (2) Mannat ‘Urfi (‘Urfi vow).
(1) Mannat Shar‘i is that a person makes something obligatory upon himself for the sake of Allah. This has certain conditions; if these are found, then fulfilling such a vow becomes Wajib (necessary), and failing to do so makes a person sinful. Due to the ill effects of this sin, if a calamity befalls, it would not be far-fetched.
(2) The second is Mannat ‘Urfi, which is when people vow that if a certain work is accomplished, they will place a chadar (cloth) on the shrine of a saint or visit it. This is an ‘Urfi vow; fulfilling it is not Wajib (necessary), but it is good.

Vows made to a Prophet or Wali:
According to Shari‘ah, making an ‘Urfi vow for someone other than Allah, whether for a Prophet or a Wali, is permissible, and both rich and poor as well as Sadat Kiram (descendants of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) may eat from such food. This is what is called Nazar ‘Urfi or Niyaz. However, making a Shar‘i vow for anyone other than Allah Ta‘ala is prohibited.

Precautions regarding vows:
In this matter, Sadr al-Shari‘ah Badr al-Tariqah ‘Allama Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A‘zami رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْهِ states:
“If one vows to light lamps in a mosque, fill the niches, place a chadar on the shrine of a certain saint, give the Gyarhween (11th of Rabi‘ al-Thani) niyaz, prepare the food of Ghaws al-A‘zam رضي الله تعالى عنه, prepare the food of Shah Abdul Haqq رضي الله تعالى عنه, perform Hazrat Jalal Bukhari’s Kunda, or vow to give offerings in Muharram, distribute sharbat or set up a water stall, or celebrate Mawlid Sharif, these are not Shar‘i vows, but these acts themselves are not forbidden — if done, they are good. However, care must be taken not to mix anything against Shari‘ah with them. For example, in filling lamp niches, if women of the family gather together singing and playing, that is haram; or going with drums and music to place a chadar, that is impermissible; or in lighting lamps in the mosque, some people use flour lamps which is wasteful and impermissible — clay lamps are enough, and even oil is not necessary, light can be obtained from ordinary fuel. As for arranging carpets and lighting at Mawlid Sharif, distributing sweets, inviting people, fixing a date, and having reciters read in a melodious voice, all of this is permissible. However, reading false or fabricated narrations is prohibited, and both the reader and listener will be sinful.”

(Bunyadi ‘Aqaid aur Ma‘mulat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, Part 2, pp. 108–109)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti scholar)
Translated answer
Date: 23rd August 2025