Sometimes the moral doctrines of the Bible and the Quran clash. The terrestrial punishment for thieves (see Exodus 22:1-4 and Surah 5:38, especially ironic in light of Surah 2:53 and 3:3) and the eschatological punishment of hell [1] are great examples of this. In other cases, they overlap, as with the prohibition of killing outside the context of justice or defense (Exodus 20:13, 21:12-14, Surah 5:32). Supposedly, Allah is Yahweh (Surah 2:53, 3:3, 5:46), yet the Torah and Quran have many ethical disparities. On the subject of oaths made to God, the Quran and Bible once again do not say similar things. Promises to God are actually quite malleable in the Quran, which excuses people for things that they did not intend to say.
The intentions of a person alone, in a way, are all that is ultimately binding according to the Islamic text, although an intentional person would at least correct mismatching words in the moment when making a vow. There is no such thing as a person who cannot adjust their words to align with their intentions even if they only notice the difference between the standard meaning of their words and what they meant by them. In the words of Surah 2:225, "He will not call you to account for oaths you have uttered unintentionally, but He will call you to account for what you mean in your hearts. God is most forgiving and forbearing."
The prior verse says not to allow a vow made in God's name to hold someone back from doing what is good, and the following verse touches upon the broader context at this point in the Surah of vows related to divorce. Depending on the situation, Allah himself is thus taught to release people from their own vows. Never does the Christian deity release people so casually: he actually does allow certain other humans to do this, though, as specified below. If a vow is not to do something that is already irrational or evil, one is obligated to do it, for one could have avoided the vow altogether and would not have sinned by refraining (Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Numbers 30:1-16).
The Christian God demands that people not utter anything false (Leviticus 19:11), malicious (Leviticus 20:9), or otherwise sinful no matter how carelessly the words are used (Matthew 12:33-37), specifically commands that people not make vows to God that are not sincere. Parents of an unmarried person and a married person's spouse--the wording of Deuteronomy 23:21-23 alone means the situational case laws of Numbers 30 that address this are not really about gender, as scheduled posts will more specifically explore--can free them from their vow if they overhear and object, but otherwise, a person is obligated to do what they pledge unless they vow to do something sinful.
Words have no inherent meaning, yes [2]. In this regard, all words only mean whatever they are intended to mean. If a person still uses words one way and casually, carelessly makes a promise to Yahweh that they do not intend to keep or have the power to uphold and do not, given that the thing promised is not itself evil, they are obligated to do that thing. This is the Biblical doctrine of vows. As for the Quran, Allah here is less demanding than Yahweh, though that alone does not make something metaphysically true or morally good (as if Allah's and Yahweh's hells are comparably severe)! Still, if someone truly intended to not say something or to say it differently, they could always rectify their speech immediately afterward and clarify their intentions.
[2]. While I have frequently written about this logical truth, this was one of my first articles about it:
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