Some scholars have said that if a recitation is not transmitted by mass transmission, it is not established. This is incorrect. Rather, if a recitation is authentically established, even if it has not been transmitted by mass transmission, it is like a hadith from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. For example, if Ibn Masud used to recite it, this means that he transmitted it from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and heard it from him. We maintain that it is not to be recited in the prayer, although Shaykh al-Islam, may Allah have mercy on him, held that it may be recited in the prayer whenever it is authentically established, even if it is not transmitted by mass transmission.
“Whoever incurs several oaths before offering expiation, where their required expiation is the same, is liable for one expiation only,” …
His statement, “Whoever incurs several oaths before offering expiation, where their required expiation is the same, is liable for one expiation only”: man (whoever) is a conditional noun that governs the jussive; the conditional clause is “incurs,” and its answer is, “is liable for one expiation only.” An example is for someone to say, “By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so; by Allah, I will not enter the house; by Allah, I will not go to the market.” These are three oaths whose required expiation—that is, what becomes obligatory as a result of them, or what they entail—is the same: feeding, clothing, or freeing a slave; and if he cannot find the means, then fasting. They all agree as to what is required—that is, their expiation is the same. So what is he liable for if he breaks all three oaths? He is liable for one expiation only, by analogy with the case of multiple acts that nullify ablution: only one ablution is required. For instance, a man sleeps, defecates, urinates, passes wind, and eats camel meat. These are five nullifying acts, yet he is required to perform ablution only once.
They said: Thus, these are multiple causes while the resulting obligation is one, so he is liable for only one expiation. This applies if it is before offering expiation.
But if it is after offering expiation—for example, if he says, “By Allah, I will not speak to so-and-so; by Allah, I will not enter the house; by Allah, I will not go to the market”—then these are three