THE CHAPTER OF THE NEZRITES · 20 – EXCEPTION AFTER SILENCE
From Ikrimah, may Allah be pleased with him:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said (initially), "By Allah, I will certainly wage war against the Quraysh. By Allah, I will certainly wage war against the Quraysh. By Allah, I will wage war against the Quraysh." Then he said, “If Allah wills.”
Abu Dawud said: I narrated this hadith from Sharik; from Simak; from Ikrimah; from Ibn Abbas; many people related it to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Walid ibn Muslim narrated through a chain with Sharik: "Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, did not wage war against the Quraysh."
It is narrated from Ikrimah (may Allah be pleased with him) on the authority of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said, “By Allah, I will fight against the Quraysh.” Then he said, “If it should be.” Then he said, “By Allah, certainly I will fight against the Quraysh, if it should be.” Then again he said, "By Allah, certainly I will fight against the Quraysh, if it should be." Then again he said, “By Allah, certainly I will fight against the Quraysh.” Then he was silent. Then he said, “If it should be.”
Abu Dawud says: Walid ibn Muslim narrated from Sharik adding the phrase "Then he did not fight against the Quraysh."
EXPLANATION:
If a person makes an oath and immediately follows it with ‘insha’Allah’ (if Allah wills), then expiation is not required for breaking that oath. The scholars have differed regarding how long after the oath this exception can be made.
1 – It is unanimously agreed that an exception attached to the oath is permissible.
2 – An exception is permissible as long as one has not dispersed from the matter of the oath.
3 – According to Ahmad ibn Hanbal, an exception is permissible as long as one continues in the subject matter.
4 – According to Ibn Abbas, an exception is permissible after a period of time from the oath.
5 – According to Sa’id ibn Jubayr, an exception is permissible four months after the oath.