What is the ruling regarding a man saying to his wife, "You are unlawful to me" three times with the intention of intimidation, not divorce, and what is its expiation, and what must he do to take her back?

A husband's statement to his wife, "You are forbidden to me," repeated three times, is considered an ambiguous expression (kinayah) that requires intention. If he intended divorce (talaq), or zihar (a pre-Islamic form of divorce by comparing his wife to an unmarriageable relative), or ila' (an oath to abstain from sexual relations with his wife), then what he intended takes effect. If he did not intend anything or only intended to scare her without divorcing her, then he is only required to offer an expiation for breaking an oath (kaffarat yameen). It is preferable, however, to be cautious and perform the expiation for zihar in addition to the expiation for breaking an oath.