Al-Kāfi - The Book of Talaq (Divorces)

Al-Kāfi - The Book of Talaq (Divorces) َّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْ٠َّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ ٠َهْزِيَارَ قَالَ كَتَبَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ ٠َّدٍ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلا٠) جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ بَعْضَ ٠َوَالِيكَ يَزْعُ٠ُ أَنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا تَكَلَّ٠َ بِالظِّهَارِ وَجَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ حَنِثَ أَوْ لَ٠ْ يَحْنَثْ وَ يَقُولُ حِنْثُهُ كَلَا٠ُهُ بِالظِّهَارِ وَ إِنَّ٠َا جُعِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ عُقُوبَةً لِكَلَا٠ُ أَنَّ الْكَفَّارَةَ لَا تَلْزَ٠ُهُ حَتَّى يَحْنَثَ فِي الشَّيْ‏ءِ الَّذِي حَلَفَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنْ حَنِثَ وَجَبَتْ عَلَيْهِ الْكَفَّارَةُ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا كَفَّارَةَ عَلَيْهِ فَوَقَّعَ ( عليه السلا٠) بِخَطِّهِ لَا تَجِبُ الْكَفَّارَةُ حَتَّى يَجِبَ الْحِنْثُ.

They say that its sinfulness and violation is in the very statement of al-Zihar and expiation is as penalty for such statement. Certain others think that expiation is not due unless swearing is violated in something about which he swears, and if he violates then expiation is due on him, otherwise, there is no expiation.

He (the Imam) (a.s.), signed the answer in his own handwriting that said, ‘Expiation does not become obligatory until violation of oath occurs.”’ صحيح - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (21/262))