Ruling 2673 — Vow (Nadhr) and Covenant (ʿAhd)

If a person vows to refrain from an act but does not specify a period for it, in the event that he does the act owing to forgetfulness, necessity, negligence, error, or because someone compelled him, or he was inculpably ignorant (al‑jāhil al‑qāṣir),[5] then in any of these cases, it is not obligatory for him to give kaffārah. However, the vow remains in place; therefore, if he does the act volitionally from then onwards, he must give kaffārah.