Q 3: Is it permissible for a wife to refuse having sexual intercourse with her husband when he desires it? What is the ruling if she refuses merely out of stubbornness?

A: It is not permissible for a wife to disobey her husband when he wishes to be intimate with her except for a Shar`y (Islamically lawful) reason, such as menstruation. It is related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, (Part No. 19; Page No. 222)  "When a woman spends the night deserting the marital bed, the angels curse her until she comes back (to the bed)." In another narration related by Al-Bukhari, he (peace be upon him) said, "If a man calls his wife to his bed and she refuses to come, the angels curse her until the morning." In another narration by Muslim, he (peace be upon him) said, "The One Who is in the heaven is displeased with her until he (her husband) is pleased with her." May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet, his family, and Companions.