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One of my colleagues said to me, "Manat or oath must be carried out. If a poor makes a manat that he will sacrifice a domestic animal during the Eid ul Azha, he must fulfill it. If the purchased animal is lost, he will be required to sacrifice two (one for the lost one and another for penalty). But in case of a rich man, there is no provision of penalty." I said, "Do you think that Islam is meant for doing injustice to the poor?" He replied, "Since qurbani was not due to him, why did he vow to do it? Penalty is for making a such a unwanted vow." I said, "Where did you read it? Is it in the Quran or in the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (SM)." The reply was unsatisfactory.

Manat means oath to do something within capacity. If one vows that he will present his daughter the moon if she passes the SSC Examination with distinction, it is not must for him to fulfill. Manat does not relate to any impossible task or to commission of crime. In this regard, let us study the verse no.5/89 for answer:

"Allah calls not you to account for what is vain in your oaths, but He calls you to account for making of deliberate oaths. So its expiation is the feeding of 10 poor men out of the middling (food) you feed your family with, or their clothing, or the freeing of a slave. But whosoever cannot find means, the fasting for three days only." Elsewhere we read, "Allah imposes not upon any man a duty but to the extent of his capacity."-2/286.

One must remember that Islam is a practicable religion and does not do least injustice to any human soul. This is the reason that Allah has enjoined keeping of fast for three days in case of a man's inability to find means to fulfill after taking of oath. Thus if a poor man takes oath to sacrifice a animal, he may expiate by keeping fasting for three days if he cannot buy a goat or a cattle. The said provision is also applicable if the purchased animal is lost.

Rabbani

Dhaka