He Said to His Wife: "Consider Yourself Forbidden to Me For One Year."

Question :

for Scientific Researches and Religious Verdicts studied the following question, the essence of which is that a dispute occurred between his wife and his daughter-in-law and he became angry and said to his wife: "Consider yourself forbidden to me for one whole year." and his children cried and wept, so (he asks) what should he do? The Committee replied as follows:

Answer:

If the matter is as stated, then what this husband did is considered Zihar, even though his declaration that she was forbidden was of a temporary nature for a year - it remains a form of evil speech and untruth. So he should seek Allah's Forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance for this sin he committed, for Allah, Most High says:
Those among you who make their wives unlawful to them by Zihar (i.e., by saying to them: "You are like my mother's back,") they cannot be their mothers. None can be their mothers except those who gave them birth. And verily, they utter an ill word and a lie. And verily, Allah is Oft-Pardoning, Oft-Forgiving.

Then, if he has not had sexual intercourse with her until the year ends, there is no atonement incumbent upon him. But if he has sexual intercourse with her during the course of the year, he must make atonement for Az-Zihar, which is to free a believing slave if he found one. If he did not find one, then he must fast for two consecutive months. If he is unable to do that, then he must feed thirty sa to sixty poor persons, giving half a Sa' of the staple food of the country, such as dates, rice or the like, to each poor person. Allah, Most High says:
And those who make unlawful to them (their wives) by Zihar and wish to free themselves from what they uttered, (the penalty) in that case is the freeing of a slave before they touch each other. That is an admonition to you (so that you may not repeat such an ill thing). And Allah is All-Aware of what you do. And he who finds not (the money for freeing a slave) must fast two successive months before they both touch each other. And he who is unable to do so, should feed sixty Masäkin (poor). That is in order that you may have perfect faith in Allah and His Messenger. These are the limits set by Allah..

And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, Muhammad and upon his family.

Source:
The Permanent Committee
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 6 Pages 78-79-80