If he intends this meaning, does it remove the obligation of expiation? Considering his intention and the certainty of his assertion, his oath has been contradicted. Considering his wording, however, and the fact that he categorically asserted something conditional rather than unconditional, it has not been contradicted, even if his belief was mistaken. This resembles someone who swears concerning a person, believing the matter to be as he swore, only for the contrary to become apparent. Since his statement about the past reflected his belief, he has not broken his oath, unlike someone who deliberately lies. Likewise, the person under discussion has not presumptuously sworn about what Allah will do.

It may, however, be said: He ought to have remained uncertain. Since he presumptuously swore about what Allah would do and invoked the divine will as confirmation, intending thereby to reinforce the certainty of his assertion, mentioning it only increased the presumption of his oath rather than making it conditional.

In response, it may be argued: His certainty pertains to his belief, not his words. In his words, he did not presumptuously swear about what Allah would do; rather, he stated that this would happen if Allah willed, adding: “I firmly believe that it will happen.”

Is expiation required because my statement fails to correspond to reality, or because my belief fails to correspond to reality? It is required only because the statement fails to correspond to reality. For if I said, “I believe this will happen, and I am firm in my belief,” I would not have broken an oath if it did not happen. What my words mean is that I am certain this will happen, and I tell you that it will happen if Allah wills. Thus, I have made my statement to you conditional, not my belief. Otherwise, saying “if Allah wills” would serve no purpose: if I meant that I was certain it would happen if Allah willed, my certainty would not be unconditional.

Likewise, if I meant that both my belief and my statement were conditional upon Allah’s will, that would be the first case. Rather, the meaning is that my belief in its occurrence is firm, while my statement to you is conditional upon His will. I have made it conditional upon His will because no one should make statements about future events without qualifying them by Allah’s will. This requires further consideration.