Swearing that another person will do something, and then that person goes against it

The questioner:
May Allah guide you, is there an expiation due if a person swears that someone will do such-and-such, or will not do such-and-such, and that person goes against it?

The Shaykh:
Yes. If he swears regarding someone else whom he has the authority to compel, such as his children or his wife, and he swears over them while he has the authority to compel them, and they go against it, then the expiation becomes obligatory for him. Yes.

The questioner:
Is this person considered to have broken his oath?

The Shaykh:
If he breaks his oath, he does not commit a sin. He commits a sin if he does not pay the expiation. Yes.

The questioner:
Yes.

The Shaykh:
The one who goes against it does not bear any sin. The one who goes against it is free, unless... if the one who swore is the one who went against it, he does not bear any sin. However, it is recommended for him to fulfill the oath of his brother, or his father, or a relative. It is recommended for him to do so. It is recommended that he fulfill the oath of his Muslim brother or relative, but the obligation does not compel him.

The questioner:
He cannot compel her.

The Shaykh:
Yes, if he is unable to compel him, he breaks his oath from the very beginning, from the first time.

The questioner:
We find it strange. Yes.

The Shaykh:
He did not carry it out based on the oath. He breaks his oath from the very beginning. If he swears regarding someone whom he does not have the authority to compel, the expiation becomes obligatory for him from the start, from the moment he first swore, because he does not have the authority to compel him. But if he swears regarding someone whom he has the authority to compel, he does not break his oath unless the person over whom he swore goes against the oath. Yes.