I said to my sons: I swear by my Lord, if you do such and such, but they threw my words to the winds. Do I owe a ransom payment or an expiation?

Question:
May Allah reward you with good. You say that you swore to your sons by saying, "I swear by my Lord who created me, if you do such and such," but they threw my words to the ground. What should I do now, Honorable Shaykh? Do I owe a ransom payment or an expiation?

Answer:
This is an oath, not a vow. If she said, "I swear by my Lord that you will not do such and such," and then they went against it and did it, then she must pay the expiation for the oath. This is feeding ten poor people, giving each poor person half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of food. The amount is one and a half kilograms for each poor person, meaning fifteen kilograms distributed among ten poor people. Or she gives each poor person a garment, as is known. Or she frees a slave, which is better if possible. She has the choice among these. If she does not find any of these three, then she fasts for three days. Yes.