Three years ago, I vowed to fast

Q: She vowed to fast five days each month if the surgery she was going to undergo would be successful, and it was. She continued fasting until Rabi` II, 1398. Now she is not able to fast and may never be able to. She lives in Jazan, which is a hot region. Is it permissible for her to do anything else other than fasting? If not, what is the ruling?

A: Your vow is to perform an act of obedience, whose fulfillment the Shari`ah regards obligatory. (Part No. 23; Page No. 255) Allah (Exalted be He) states, They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. It was authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Whoever vows to obey Allah should obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allah should not disobey Him. You should continue to fulfill your vow and make up for missed days of fasting, as long as you can. Nothing can make up for fasting. If you can no longer fast, you must offer Kaffarah (expiation) for breaking your vow, which is to feed ten needy persons, clothe them, or to free a believing bondsman. If you cannot afford any of these, you should fast for three days, preferably in succession. This will suffice In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills), for it was reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of `Uqbah ibn `Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, "My sister vowed to walk barefooted to the House of Allah (Ka`bah). She asked me to ask Allah's Messenger about this. I asked him and he (peace be upon him) said, "Let her walk, and let her ride." Ahmad and the Four Compilers of Hadith (Imams Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, Al-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah) reported that he said, Allah does not benefit from the affliction your sister imposed on herself, so let her put on her Khimar (veil covering to the waist) and perform Hajj riding, and she should fast three days (as Kaffarah for her oath). It was reported by Abu Dawud on the authority of Ibn `Abbas as his own statement (not going back to the Prophet). "If anyone takes a vow that he cannot later fulfill, its Kaffarah is the same as that for an oath." (Part No. 23; Page No. 256) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.