and sacrificial offerings may pass into other people’s ownership, unlike a wife or slave. This distinction, however, has no bearing on the ruling.

Likewise, if someone says, “Divorce is incumbent upon me—I shall certainly do such-and-such,” or, “Divorce binds me—I shall certainly do such-and-such,” this is like saying, “Hajj is incumbent upon me—I shall certainly do such-and-such.” Here, he has made the obligation to divorce, rather than divorce actually taking effect, the subject of his oath. It is as though he had said, “If I do such-and-such, I am obliged to divorce.” Thus, in some forms of oaths involving divorce, the oath is expressed in terms of an obligation, just as some forms of oaths involving vows are expressed in terms of something actually taking effect.

As for the second answer, we say: suppose that what is made conditional upon the act here is divorce and manumission actually taking effect, whereas what is made conditional there is the obligation to give charity, perform Hajj, fast, or present a sacrificial offering. Does fulfilment of the condition not entail that this obligation becomes binding? Yet expiation for an oath suffices for him. Likewise, upon fulfilment of the condition, this obligation does not become binding; rather, expiation for an oath suffices for him when the condition takes effect. If that obligation does not become binding upon fulfilment of the condition, then likewise the divorce or manumission does not actually take effect upon its fulfilment.

This is comparable to someone saying, “I am a Jew, a Christian, or an unbeliever if I do such-and-such.” What is made conditional here is actually entering unbelief upon fulfilment of the condition. Yet, by agreement, when the condition is fulfilled, he does not enter unbelief. Rather, he must either offer expiation for an oath or nothing is required of him.

If, however, he were to declare outright, “I am a Jew, a Christian, or an unbeliever,” he would thereby enter unbelief. This is comparable to his declaring outright, “My slave is free,” “My wife is divorced,” “This camel is a sacrificial offering,” “I am bound to present a sacrificial offering,” or, “I am bound to fast