A man said to his companions: I testify to Allah and to you that I will not return to this act. Is this an oath?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: A person was in a gathering and was in a state of anger, so he said to his companions: I testify to Allah and to you that I will not return to this act again, if Allah wills. Then he was not sure about this exception, so his companions said to him: You made an exception in your oath. Does the expiation fall off due to this exception, or is it necessary?

Answer:
This is not an oath; it is not a yamin. This is "I testify to Allah" and so on; it is not an oath. This is merely information, just information. It is not an oath, but he must repent to Allah for the sin, even if he had not said "I testify to you." He must repent to Allah, seek forgiveness, and not return to the sin. As for the expiation, he owes no expiation with this wording because it is not an oath. Yes.