Ibn Taymiyah: intercourse is more important than feeding her

Ibn Taymiyah: intercourse is more important than feeding her

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah رحمه الله was asked about a man who stayed away from his wife for a month or two months and did not have intercourse with her; was there any sin on him or not? Could the husband be asked to do that?

He replied:

The husband is obliged to have intercourse with his wife on a reasonable basis, which is one of the most important rights that she has over him; it is more important than feeding her. It was said that what is obligatory with regard to intercourse is once every four months, or according to her need and his ability, just as he should feed her according to her need and his ability. And the latter is the more correct opinion.

Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 32/271

شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية رحمه الله:

عن الرجل إذا صبر على زوجته الشهر والشهرين لا يطؤها ، فهل عليه إثم أم لا ؟ وهل يطالب الزوج بذلك ؟ . 

فأجاب :

" يجب على الرجل أن يطأ زوجته بالمعروف ، وهو من أوكد حقها عليه ، أعظم من إطعامها ، والوطء الواجب قيل : إنه واجب في كل أربعة أشهر مرة ، وقيل : بقدر حاجتها وقدرته ، كما يطعمها بقدر حاجتها وقدرته ، وهذا أصح القولين" " مجموع الفتاوى " ( 32 / 271 ).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah رحمه الله said:

Causing harm to the wife by not having intercourse is grounds for annulment in all cases, whether the husband did that intentionally or otherwise, and whether he was able to do it or not; it is like maintenance, and even more important.

Al-Fataawa al-Kubra, 5/481-482

 شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية رحمه الله :

"وَحُصُولُ الضَّرَرِ لِلزَّوْجَةِ بِتَرْكِ الْوَطْءِ مُقْتَضٍ لِلْفَسْخِ بِكُلِّ حَالٍ سَوَاءٌ كَانَ بِقَصْدٍ مِنْ الزَّوْجِ أَوْ بِغَيْرِ قَصْدٍ وَلَوْ مَعَ قُدْرَتِهِ وَعَجْزِهِ كَالنَّفَقَةِ وَأَوْلَى"الفتاوى الكبرى" (5/481-482) .