Telling a person that his vow has been broken so he can offer expiation

Praise be to Allah.

We put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah preserve him, who replied:

He has to tell him.

Question:

It is obligatory for him to do so?

Answer:

Yes.

Question:

If he offers expiation for him, then he tells him, and he (the one who originally made the oath) accepts that and agrees to it, will that be sufficient?

Answer:

The correct view is that that will be sufficient.

Question:

Is it conditional upon him telling the other person that he has offered expiation, so he will be free of blame?

Answer:

Yes, he has to tell him, and if he tells him before he offers expiation, this is better. And Allaah knows best.