When I was about thirteen years

Q: I was twelve or thirteen years old when I was in the first year of intermediate school. I was suffering from acute depression at that time. I started to renounce life as I despaired of recovery. I made a vow that if Allah cured me from my illness, I would slaughter twenty camels. Allah (Exalted be He) did cure me from my illness. Twelve years had passed (Part No. 23; Page No. 200) since I made the vow. When I talked to my father about it, he said that I did not have to fulfill my vow on account of my young age then. He also told me that he had a similar story. When he was young, he used to tend the sheep for his family. When a sheep was lost, he would make a vow to slaughter a camel if Allah (Exalted be He) brought it back to him. He would then wonder at this, saying:"I vowed to slaughter a camel though I only lost a sheep."Kindly tell me whether I am required to fulfill my vow or not. If I have to, what is the proper way to fulfill it? I would like to add that I did not specify the time or the way I would fulfill my vow. By the "way" I mean the place where I am supposed to slaughter at and the people to whom I have to distribute the meat and so on. May Allah guide us and you to that which pleases Him!

A: You are not required to fulfill the vow you had made if you were still under age. Signs of puberty can be identified by having coarse pubic hair grown, experiencing a sexual dream, or reaching fifteen years of age.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.