Fulfilling the wife’s sexual needs

Most schools of law have stated that the husband has an obligation to fulfil the sexual needs of his wife[1][2]. The following has been mentioned in the Hanafi School:

“A woman can demand sexual intercourse from her husband by consensus because marriage is a safeguard for her from illicit sexual relations.”[3]

However, the following has been mentioned in the Shafi’i School:

“Sexual gratification is not compulsory upon him because it is a right for him, so he can leave it just like residing in a rented house. Also, because the incitement to sexual gratification is sexual desire so it is not possible to make it compulsory. The recommended action is that he doesn’t neglect her because of what has been narrated from Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to me, ‘Do you fast all day?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘Do you stand in prayer all night?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘But I fast and I don’t fast, I pray and I sleep and I have contact with women so whoever desires other than my sunnah then he is not from me.’ Also, if he neglects her then corruption and the occurrence of discord is uninsured.”[4]

However, the wife still has a right to demand it from her husband and he must try his best to satisfy her needs.

Answered by Shaykh Bilal Brown

[1] “In Sahih Muslim, the Messenger of Allah (May Allah send peace and blessings upon him said), ‘A bed for a man, a bed for his wife, a bed for a guest, and the fourth one is for Satan.’ In ‘Nawazil’ of Ibn al-Hajj: ‘It could be inferred from this hadith that a man does not have to sleep in one bed with his wife but her right over him is only in sexual intercourse specifically.” (Al-Taj wa al-Iklil, Chapter of Division and Marital Disobedience).

[2] “It is necessary for the husband to have intercourse with his wife if she requests it every four months if he is able.” (Sharh Muntaha al-Iradat by al-Buhuti [5/311]).

“It is said that it returns to custom and Shaykh Taqi al-Din opined the obligation of intercourse according to her satisfaction as long as it does not harm his body or keep him from his provision, without specifying any particular time period.”(Al-Insaf [21/405]).

[3] (Al-Binayah Sharh al-Hidayah, Chapter of Marriage, [5/220]).

[4] (Al-Muhadhdhab, Chapter of Companionship of Women).