I asked Abu Abdullah (as) about a man who abandons his wife without divorcing her or taking an oath, leaving her for a year without approaching her bed. Imam (as) said: "He must return to his wife." Imam (as) also said: "Any man who swears an oath (ilaʾ) against his wife-ilaʾ being when he says, 'By Allah (swt), I will not have relations with you for such and such time' or 'By Allah (swt), I will anger you,' and then he continues to upset her, he is to be given four months. After those four months, he will be brought forward. If he reconciles with his wife, which means returning to her, then 'Indeed, Allah (swt) is Forgiving, Merciful' (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:226). But if he does not reconcile, he will be forced to divorce her. However, no divorce will occur between them until he is brought forward, and even after the four months, he will be compelled either to reconcile or to divorce." It is also narrated: "If he reconciles, meaning he returns to marital relations, then so be it. Otherwise, he will be imprisoned in a pen made of reeds and will be subjected to hardship in food and drink until he divorces her." Additionally, it is narrated: "Whenever the Imam of the Muslims commands him to divorce and he refuses, his neck shall be struck (execution) due to his defiance against the authority of the Imam of the Muslims."