What is the ruling on a husband taking back his wife to whom he said, "You are unlawful to me as much as my eye can see," and then divorced her with a first repudiation?

The statement of a man to his wife, "You are forbidden to me," and similar phrases of prohibition, depends on the husband's intention. If he intended divorce, it is a single irrevocable divorce. If he intended ẓihār (a form of injurious divorce by likening one's wife to an unmarriageable kin), then it is ẓihār. If he only intended abstinence, then it is an oath for which he must make expiation. The questioner's statement, "And after that, he brought her her paper, and this is the first divorce," indicates his intention of divorce. Thus, a single divorce occurs, and he may take her back if she is still within her iddah (waiting period). The husband must fear Allah and restrain his tongue from divorce when angry.