Vowing while joking to feed the whole street if his son lives and being unable to locate all the people

Q 2: While joking with some people, someone said that if his one-year-old son lived, he would feed the people in his neighborhood. Although the man's son (Part No. 23; Page No. 245) grew up to manhood, the man did not fulfill the vow he made. Now he is asking about what he should do. The people in the neighborhood were few in number at the time he made the vow and none of them is living there now.

A: If by saying to feed the people in the neighborhood the person intended to make a vow, he will have to fulfill his vow by feeding a number of people who are now living in his neighborhood provided that their number is not less than the number of people who used to live there at the time he made the vow. Feeding the poor is an act of worship with which the Muslim draws closer to Allah (Exalted be He). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Anyone who vows to obey Allah should obey Him." Allah (Exalted be He) has praised those who fulfill their vows, saying: They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading. A man had made a vow to slaughter a camel at Buwanah during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). He went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to ask him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "Are there any idols that were worshipped in Jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic time of ignorance)?" It was said, "No." He asked, "Is any of their feasts observed there?" It was replied, "No." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Fulfill your vow, as there is no fulfillment of a vow which involves disobedience to Allah, or with regard to a thing the son of Adam does not own." If by saying to feed the people in the neighborhood, the person in the question did not intend to make a vow but only intended to make a promise to feed them if his son grew up, he may or may not fulfill his promise. (Part No. 23; Page No. 246) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.