What is the ruling on pronouncing divorce conditional upon an impossible event?
Chapter on Explicit Divorce and Others
Al-Mughni
Book of Divorce
Primary text
There are two primary opinions regarding divorce conditioned upon an event that is absolutely impossible (such as killing the dead or collecting opposites). The first view holds that the divorce occurs immediately because the condition invalidates the pronouncement, similar to an exception encompassing the entirety of the statement or stating a divorce that cannot take effect. The second view is that no divorce occurs because the condition is a non-existent attribute upon which the divorce is suspended.
Supporting text
It is additionally stated that if the impossibility is intellectual, the divorce occurs immediately because the non-existent condition leaves only the pure divorce pronouncement. If the impossibility is customary (like flying), no divorce occurs because such an act has a precedent in miracles and saintly manifestations, allowing for suspension but not immediate effect.