Does a divorce take place if a man says to his wife: "If you go out, you are divorced," knowing that it is impossible for her not to go out, or is swearing her to not go out considered impossible, thus rendering the divorce invalid?

The questioner does not concede in his introduction that it is impossible for the wife not to leave her house; rather, it is difficult and critical. This premise does not lead to the definitive conclusion that a divorce conditioned on an impossible event does not occur, for conditioning on an impossible event involves detail and disagreement among scholars:

- Ibn Qudamah mentioned two views in "Al-Mughni" regarding conditioning divorce on an impossible event (such as: if you kill the dead, or drink the water in the jug when there is no water in it):

- The first: The divorce occurs immediately, because he appended the divorce with something that prevents its immediate occurrence.

- The second: It does not occur, because he conditioned the divorce on a condition that does not exist.

- It was also said: If he conditioned it on something impossible rationally, it occurs immediately. If he conditioned it on something impossible conventionally (like flying or ascending to the sky), it does not occur; because its like has been found in the miracles of prophets and the wonders of saints.

- A man's statement to his wife: "If you leave, you are divorced," is a divorce conditioned on a condition that can possibly occur, and it occurs when the condition is met, according to the majority of scholars.

- Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and those who followed him disagreed with this, saying: If he intended the divorce to occur by the condition, then it occurs. But if he intended exhortation or prevention, it does not occur, and he owes an expiation for an oath if the conditioned event occurs.