Is the suspension of disbelief on a certain matter dependent on uttering it for it to take effect, or does it take effect even if the person does not utter it? Does disbelief occur immediately or upon breaking the oath if the suspension necessitates disbelief? Is disbelief repeated with the repetition of the suspended action? Is it possible to retract the suspension before breaking the oath? Does one become an infidel merely by suspending disbelief?

The majority of scholars hold that whoever says, "I will disbelieve in Allah if I do such-and-such," and then does it, does not become a disbeliever unless disbelief is hidden in his heart. If he intended to distance himself from the action, or spoke without a specific intention, he does not disbelieve, but he must seek Allah's forgiveness and say, "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." However, if he intended to be content with disbelief should he perform the action, then he becomes a disbeliever immediately. Scholars differed on whether expiation is required for him; some saw it as obligatory, while others held that it is not obligatory, and that only repentance and seeking forgiveness are required of him, because an oath made by other than the names and attributes of Allah does not constitute a valid oath. If this is the case for one who utters such words, then it is even more so that one who does not utter them does not disbelieve, because Allah has forgiven the whisperings of the soul as long as a person does not speak them or act upon them.