The ruling on one who says to his wife: “You are forbidden to me”

Question: A man who identified himself as A. A. and a woman who identified herself as F. M. came to me, accompanied by a man who identified himself as A. A. and who knew them. The aforementioned husband admitted that he had divorced the aforementioned wife with one divorce in the month of Muharram in the year 1393 AH. Then, some people advised him to take her back, so he said: “She is forbidden to me.” He had not divorced her before this divorce, nor after it. This occurred after he had consummated the marriage. When the aforementioned wife was asked about this, she answered that this is what actually happened. They both admitted that he had taken her back one night after the aforementioned divorce. They sought my ruling on this matter.

Answer: I issued a ruling to them that one divorce had taken place with his wife through this divorce, and his taking her back is valid. He owes the expiation for zihar for the aforementioned prohibition.
And due to his inability to free a slave or fast—according to his statement—I issued a ruling to him that he must feed sixty poor people before he touches her, giving each poor person half a sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg) of the staple food of the land, such as dates or otherwise. He must also repent from the aforementioned prohibition, because forbidding one’s wife and others of what Allah has made lawful is not permissible. May Allah improve the condition of all of them.
Said by the one who is poor in need of the forgiveness of his Lord, Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz
President of the Islamic University in Madinah al-Munawwarah, may Allah forgive him
And may Allah send prayers and peace upon His servant and our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions