thus, if he says, “You are divorced,” or, “You are divorced the day I die,” or, “the day you die,” one narration—recorded by Ibn Wahb—rules that the divorce takes effect immediately, whereas another—related by Ibn al-Qāsim—says that nothing at all results.

A similar split is found when a man tells his wife while she is menstruating, “When you become pure you are divorced.” On one occasion Mālik said the divorce does not occur until she attains ritual purity—a view also voiced by ʿAbd al-Malik. On another occasion he ruled that the pronouncement triggers the divorce straightaway.

If he says to her, “You are divorced until the date harvest,” “until the grape pressing,” “until the general harvest,” or “until the pilgrims return,” the separation becomes effective at once.

Should he declare to his wife, “When you give birth you are divorced,” she is not divorced until she delivers the child, although another report from Mālik holds that the divorce is immediate. If she is carrying twins, there are two narrations from Mālik: one—transmitted by Ibn Wahb—that no divorce occurs until the entire pregnancy is delivered; the other that it takes effect with the birth of the first child.

Whoever says to his wife, “You are divorced if it rains tomorrow—you are divorced,” she will not be divorced tomorrow unless rain actually falls. But if he says, “You are divorced; the sky will definitely rain tomorrow,” she is divorced at once according to Ibn al-Qāsim, whereas according to Ashhab she is not divorced unless it does in fact rain the next day.

If he says, “You are divorced if this almond does not contain two kernels,” the divorce is immediate according to Mālik, whether two kernels are found once the almond is cracked or not. Scholars other than Mālik—including Ashhab—state that no divorce takes place if two kernels are present.

One who tells his wife, “You are divorced when so-and-so arrives,” is not divorced until that person actually arrives and the husband becomes aware of it; he may have marital relations with her until he is certain of the arrival. Likewise, if he says, “You are divorced when you enter the house,” the divorce is not effected until she does enter. The same principle applies to every other condition that may or may not come to pass.