I asked Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) about a man who declared ẓihar (a form of divorce by comparison) against his wife and then divorced her with one divorce. Imam (as) said: "If he divorces her with one divorce, the ẓihar becomes nullified, and the divorce cancels the ẓihar." I asked: "Can he take her back?" Imam (as) replied: "Yes, she is still his wife. However, if he takes her back, he must fulfill the obligation required of one who has performed ẓihar before engaging in intercourse with her." I asked: "If he leaves her until her waiting period (iddah) ends and she gains full control over herself, and then he marries her again afterward, is he still bound by the previous ẓihar before engaging in intercourse?" Imam (as) replied: "No, she has been completely separated from him and has gained control over herself." I asked: "If he declared ẓihar against her but did not have intercourse with her and left her without touching her, although he still saw her uncovered, does anything become obligatory upon him in this case?" Imam (as) said: "She is his wife, and it is not forbidden for him to have intercourse with her. However, he must fulfill what is required of one who has performed ẓihar before having intercourse with her, as she remains his wife." I asked: "If she complains to the authorities, saying, 'This is my husband who has declared ẓihar against me but holds on to me without touching me out of fear of the obligation that comes with ẓihar,' what is to be done?" Imam (as) said: "It is not obligatory for the authority to compel him to free a slave, fast, or feed the poor if he has nothing to free, cannot fast, and does not have the means to give charity. However, if he is capable of freeing a slave, then it is upon the Imam to compel him to free a slave or give charity before he touches her or after he has done so."