What is the ruling on a man who returned to an illicit relationship after having secretly sworn to himself to divorce his wife with a triple divorce if he were to return to it, intending thereby to threaten and reprimand himself?

The fatwa given is that the wife is divorced with three divorces and an irrevocable major divorce, due to the husband breaking his oath. This is the view of the majority of scholars. Some scholars hold the view that as long as he intended a threat or emphasis and did not intend to effect a divorce, then his divorce did not occur, and he is obligated to offer an expiation for his oath.

Swearing by divorce is among the oaths of the dissolute, and it can lead to undesirable consequences. Furthermore, using oaths to compel oneself to abandon sins is not a sound approach.