Statement: “If Allah wills, I will attend, with the intention of not attending”

Question:
He says: 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 anything wrong with that?

Answer:
There is nothing wrong with that, but you have made a promise. If you say you will attend, you have promised them your attendance. Fulfilling a promise is recommended; in fact, some scholars hold that fulfilling a promise is obligatory. They hold that fulfilling a promise is obligatory because the hypocrite, when he makes a promise, breaks it. If you are not going to come, say you are not coming. If you have a valid excuse, state it. Do not say it with a good voice while they are waiting for you and you leave them. Apologize, yes. And your attendance “if Allah wills” does not help; rather, this is a confirmation of attendance. This is a confirmation, yes.