What is the ruling on one who says to his wife: "You are unlawful to me" intending intercourse for a month, and is it permissible for him to touch her, caress her, or kiss her during this period, and is it permissible for him to have intercourse with her?

If a man tells his wife, "You are unlawful to me" for a specified period, such as a month, he is considered a Muzahir (one who commits Zihar). It becomes unlawful for him to touch his wife during this period until he expiates for Zihar. However, if the month passes without intercourse, the Zihar is lifted, and his wife becomes lawful to him without expiation, because the prohibition was for that specific period.