Is the one who swears an oath to perform an impossible act considered to have broken the oath (Hanish)?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
The correct position is that the one who swears an oath to perform an impossible act is considered to have broken the oath (Hanish) and is lying. This is supported by the verse where Allah mentions those who swear by God that He will not resurrect the dead, confirming that they are liars (Quran 16:38-39). Furthermore, if one swears to perform an act that was initially conceivable but later becomes impossible, they are considered to have broken the oath, making it more compelling that breaking an oath applies when the act is impossible from the outset.