What is the ruling on a wife withholding her bed from her husband in order to compel him to provide financial maintenance?
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The questioner : A woman asks: What is the ruling on a wife withholding her bed from her husband in order to compel him to provide financial maintenance?
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, if the husband refuses to provide financial maintenance for his wife, is she permitted to withhold her bed from him, meaning that she does not respond to him when he calls her to the bed? The answer is yes, she is permitted to do so, because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:228] And because this is an encroachment on her right. And Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Baqarah 2:194] This does not contradict the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Bulugh al-Maram 8:66 because the intended meaning is the husband who fulfilled her right. As for the one who did not fulfill her right, she is permitted to treat him in kind. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, meaning, if the husband refuses to provide financial maintenance for his wife, is she permitted to withhold her bed from him, meaning that she does not respond to him when he calls her to the bed? The answer is yes, she is permitted to do so, because of the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And due to the wives is similar to what is expected of them, according to what is reasonable
ولهن مثل الذي عليهن بالمعروفSo whoever has assaulted you, then assault him in the same way that he has assaulted you
فمن اعتدى عليكم فاعتدوا عليه بمثل ما اعتدى عليكمWhen a man calls his wife to come to his bed (for marital relations), and she refuses to come, and he spends the night in anger, the angels curse her till the morning.
إذا دعا الرجل امرأته إلى فراشه فأبت أن تجيء لعنتها الملائكة حتى تصبحThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.