I asked Imam (as) about a man who said to his wife: "You are forbidden to me." Imam (as) replied: "If I had authority over him, I would have struck his head and said to him, 'Allah (swt) the Exalted has made her lawful for you, so who has made her forbidden for you?' He has done nothing more than lie, claiming that what Allah (swt) has made lawful for him is forbidden. This does not count as divorce nor does it require any expiation." I then asked Imam (as) about the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Majestic: "O Prophet! Why do you forbid (yourself) what Allah (swt) has made lawful for you, seeking to please your wives? And Allah (swt) is Forgiving, Merciful. Allah (swt) has already ordained for you (Muslims) the dissolution of your oaths." (Surah At-Tahrim 66:1-2) Imam (as) replied: "The Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) had forbidden himself from his bondwoman Mariyah and had sworn not to approach her. The expiation was made obligatory on him because of his oath, not because of the prohibition."