Vowing to slaughter two animals if her son's job moves to Abha

Q: My brother graduated as an officer and was assigned to work in Najran. I made a vow that if he was transferred to work in Abha, I would slaughter two sacrificial sheep, but I do not remember whether I vowed to slaughter those two sheep and hold a dinner for the family or slaughter them and give their meat as Sadaqah (voluntary charity) to the poor. All praise be to Allah, he was transferred to Abha and so I want to fulfill my vow, In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills). Should I slaughter the two sacrificial sheep and give them as Sadaqah or should I send the equivalent of their value to the Islamic Relief Organization as Sadaqah to fulfill my vow, or what else should I do? Could I give their value as Sadaqah to the poor and the needy or to charitable associations? Please give me a Fatwa (legal opinion issued by a qualified Muslim scholar) on this question and may Allah bless you for it and prolong your life! As-salamu ‘alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!) (Part No. 23; Page No. 332

A: It is obligatory on you to fulfill the vow you made by slaughtering the two sheep you vowed to slaughter and giving their meat as Sadaqah to the poor and the needy. The two sheep have to meet the Islamic criteria for an Ud-hiyah (sacrificial animal offered by non-pilgrims): in case of sheep it should be Jadha‘ah (a sheep that has reached the age of six months) or older; and in case of goats it should be Thaniyyah (one that has reached the age of one year) or older. May Allah make it easy for you to fulfill your vow! We would also like to advise you not to make vows in the future, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade making vows when he said, “It does not bring good, but is a means of extracting from the miserly.” May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.