He swore that he would stop watching movies, then he watched a movie by mistake. Does he have to offer expiation, and how can he stop watching movies?

Question

Praise be to Allah.

Firstly:

Movies are not free of a number of haraam things, such as
women displaying their adornments, music, and so on. We have previously
discussed the ruling on all movies, including a number of the haraam things
they contain, in the answers to several questions. See the answers to
questions no. 72204,
85232,
125535 and
114707.

If the movies are indecent or permissive, then the
prohibition on watching them is even more emphatic.

For more information please see the answer to question no.
12301.

Secondly:

Your vow not to watch movies includes all kinds of movies, so
long as you did not intend anything specific.

Based on that, it is not permissible for you to watch any
movie and if you go against that then you have to offer expiation for
breaking an oath (kafaarat yameen).

The sin that is involved in watching movies applies whether
one vowed not to watch them or not.

But, with regard to the expiation for breaking an oath, this
expiation is not required if at the time of watching it one had forgotten
the oath.

To find out more about the expiation for breaking an oath and
what it entails, see the answers to questions no.
9985 and
9943.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

Whoever swears that he will not do something, then he does it
by mistake (because he forgot) does not have to offer expiation for it. A
number of scholars narrated this from Ahmad. This applies except in the case
of divorce (talaaq) and manumission, in which case it is regarded as
breaking the oath. This seems to be the view of the madhhab and it is the
view favoured by al-Khallaal and his companion. It is also the view of Abu
‘Ubayd and of al-Shaafa‘i, because of the words of Allah (interpretation of
the meaning): “And there is no sin on you
concerning that in which you made a mistake, except in regard to what your
hearts deliberately intend” [al-Ahzaab 33:5]. And the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has forgiven my
ummah for mistakes, what they forget and what they are forced to do.” And
because he did not intend to go against it, so he has not broken his vow.
This is like one who is asleep or one who is insane. End quote.

Al-Mughni Sharh Mukhtasar al-Khuraqi,
9/391.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have
mercy on him) said:

If someone says, By Allah, I will not read this book today,
then he forgets and reads it – he does not have to do anything, because he
forgot. But if he has no excuse (for breaking his oath), such as being
compelled or forgetting, then he has to stop as soon as that excuse no
longer applies, otherwise he has broken his oath. End quote.

Al-Sharh al-Mumti‘ ‘ala Zaad al-Mustaqni‘,
15/137-138

See also the answer to question no.
42334

Thirdly:

With regard to ways of stopping watching movies, you can
achieve that by means of things that have been mentioned by the scholars and
educators. For details on that please see the answer to question no.
159366.

We ask Allah to help you to do that which He loves and which
pleases Him.

And Allah knows best.