The ruling on saying "if Allah wills" when one is unable to attend

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. If I am invited to a wedding feast and I say, "If Allah wills, I will attend," but my intention is not to attend, is there any sin in that?

Answer:
There is no sin in that, but you have made a promise. If you fail to attend, you have broken your promise to them. Keeping a promise is recommended, and some scholars even consider it obligatory. They hold that keeping a promise is obligatory because a hypocrite is one who makes a promise and then breaks it. So if you are not going to attend, say, "I do not wish to go" or "I will not be able to make it," or give one of the valid excuses. Do not say, "I will come," while they are waiting for you, and then leave them. Make an excuse. Yes, and saying "if Allah wills" will not benefit you; rather, it confirms your attendance. This is a confirmation. Yes.