What is the ruling regarding divorcing a wife whom you made swear by divorce and by Allah that she would not receive guests or hold parties in your house while you were traveling, but she violated that; and what should you do?

The fatwa is that swearing by divorce results in the divorce taking effect if one breaks the oath, unless the swearer's intention was not to effect a divorce, in which case an expiation for an oath (kaffarat yamin) is required, and no divorce occurs. Therefore, the questioner's divorce occurred when his wife did what he forbade her from doing. If this divorce does not complete the three divorces, he may take his wife back before her 'iddah (waiting period) expires, and he must offer expiation for an oath.

The wife is obligated to obey her husband in what is good, and she does not have the right to permit anyone to enter his house without his consent, due to the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "And you have the right that they do not allow anyone whom you dislike to sit on your beds." If the wife disobeys her husband, he may admonish her. If admonition does not work, he may abandon her in bed. If abandonment does not work, he may strike her with a non-harmful strike.

It should be noted that the lawful oath is to swear by Allah Almighty. As for swearing by divorce, it is among the oaths of the dissolute, and grave consequences may result from it.