Vowing to let his mother make `Umrah every year on the Day of `Eid

Q: A person vowed to have his mother perform `Umrah (lesser pilgrimage) every year on the day of `Eid, is it permissible for him to have her perform `Umrah in Ramadan or another time other than the day of `Eid without having to make Kaffarah (expiation)? If she did not want to perform `Umrah, what should he do?

A: If you have your mother perform `Umrah in Ramadan, there is no compensation due on you, because (Part No. 11; Page No. 339) this is better in reward than the time you specified in your vow. As in the case of a person who vowed to perform Salah (Prayer) in Al-Aqsa Mosque, but he performed the Salah in Al-Masjid Al-Haram, or Al-Masjid Al-Nabawy because he performed it in a better place. The same meaning is indicated in the authentic Hadith narrated on the authority of Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, A man came to the Messenger of Allah on the day of the Liberation of Makkah and said: 'O Messenger of Allah, I made a vow that if Allah made you enter Makkah victorious that I will offer Salah in Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "It is better to perform Salah here." The man repeated his words, and the Prophet replied in the same words until he told him: 'Perform Salah where you wish. Related by Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Al-Hakim who classes it as authentic. However, if his mother abstained from performing `Umrah, then he is not to blame for this, because he fulfilled his vow and it was his mother that abstained.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.