the acknowledgement on a matter that is not known, so it is not negated. If he says: "You have a thousand against me, if you wish," or "if Zayd wishes," the acknowledgement is not valid. The Qadi said: It is valid, because he followed it with something that negates it, so the acknowledgement is valid without that which negates it, just like the exception of the whole, and just like if he said: "If God wills." Our argument is that he attached it to a condition that can be known, so it is not valid, just as if he said: "He has a thousand against me, if so-and-so testifies to it." This is because an acknowledgement is an informing of a prior right, so it cannot be attached to a future condition. It differs from attaching it to the will of God Almighty, for the will of God Almighty is mentioned in speech for the sake of seeking blessings, connection, and entrustment to God Almighty, not for [the purpose of] stipulation, as God Almighty said: "You will surely enter the Sacred Mosque, if God wills, in safety, with your heads shaved" (Qur'an 48:27). God knew that they would enter without any doubt. People say: "We have prayed, if God wills," while they are certain of their prayer, unlike the will of a human being. Secondly, the will of God Almighty is not known except by the occurrence of the matter, so it is not possible to suspend the matter upon its existence, whereas the will of a human can be known; thus, it is possible to make it a condition. The matter is suspended upon its existence, and the past cannot be suspended, so it is necessary to interpret the matter here as being about the future, thus it is a promise, not an acknowledgement. If he says: "I have sold to you, if God wills," or "I have married you, if God wills," Abu Ishaq ibn Shaqla said: I know of no disagreement from him [Ahmad] that if he is told: "Do you accept this marriage?" and he says: "Yes, if God wills," the marriage occurs through it. Abu Hanifa said: Even if he says: "I sold to you for a thousand, if you wish," and he says: "I have wished and accepted," it is valid; because this condition is one of the requirements of the contract and its implication, for when the offer is found from the seller, the acceptance is left to the will and choice of the buyer. If he says: "He has two thousand against me, if so-and-so arrives," it is not binding upon him, because he did not acknowledge it in the present, and what is not binding upon him in the present does not become obligatory upon the occurrence of the condition.