Breaking a promise and the expiation for an oath

Question

Two people carried on a business together. Both had verbally affirmed that “the two of us will always do business together.” But after some time a rift arose between them, and one of the two broke his commitment. Please state what the expiation (kaffara) for this will be.

Answer

If he had not sworn an oath but had only made a promise and broke the promise without reason, he has thereby committed a sin; if some reason arose, he has not committed a sin by breaking the promise (thus in Sharh al-Ashbah wa-l-Nazaʾir). If he had sworn an oath and then acted contrary to it, expiation (kaffara)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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