view is refuted by the explicit, authentic sunnah. The wife of Rifā‘ah al-Quraẓī divorced her three times, after which she married a man named ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Zubayr. However, he had little sexual desire. She came to complain to the Messenger ﷺ, saying that she had married ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Zubayr, but that what he had was like the fringe of a garment—meaning, he had no potency. The Prophet ﷺ said to her, “Do you wish to return to Rifā‘ah? No—not until he tastes your sweetness and you taste his sweetness.” (1)

This is an explicit text establishing that intercourse is indispensable. Thus, the sunnah has added another condition to the verse. This is like how the sunnah added to Allah’s saying, “Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females” [al-Nisā’ 4:11], that a disbeliever does not inherit from a Muslim, nor does a Muslim inherit from a disbeliever. (2) The sunnah explains the Quran and clarifies it; it qualifies its unrestricted texts, specifies its general texts, and—according to the preponderant view—also abrogates it, though no example of this exists; it is nevertheless possible.

Therefore, we say: according to the preponderant view, the noble verse refers to the marriage contract, but the sunnah has added another condition to it: intercourse. Thus, intercourse is essential. This is why the author said, “until her husband has intercourse with her.”