Taking an oath of divorce to sever ties of kinship

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Q: Due to a dispute between my nephew and me, I swore by divorce once that I would not enter his home again for the rest of my life. After I calmed down, I regretted what I did. It is worth mentioning that my daughter is his brother's wife and he is my neighbor and we pray in the same Masjid (mosque). I can not endure this situation and if something happens such as death or sickness what should I do? Could you kindly advise? Is it permissible for me to visit them in such cases? Is there an expiation to allow me to enter their homes whenever I wish or they wish? I swore with divorce only one time? Could you kindly advise? May Allah reward you!

A: If the reality is as you have mentioned, enter the house of your nephew to maintain the ties of kinship and the right of neighborhood. If you intended to stop yourself from entering the house of your nephew, no divorce will be effective but you have to expiate for your oath. The expiation is: Feeding ten needy people, or clothing them, or freeing a believing slave, and if you can not afford that, then fast for three days. But if you intended to divorce your wife, one divorce will be effective. You may take your wife back in marriage as long as she is in her `Iddah (woman's prescribed waiting period after divorce or widowhood) if your divorce was not the third. (Part No. 25; Page No. 346) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.