and, should she request his return, he must comply.

He must apportion the nights equally among his wives, giving each one night in turn unless they are content with a different arrangement.

It is forbidden for him, during one wife’s turn, to enter upon another wife except in case of necessity, or to visit her during that wife’s day except for a genuine need; if he stays or has intercourse, he must later make up the missed time.

If he divorces a wife during her assigned night, he sins, and should he remarry her he must give her the night he withheld.

He is not obliged to equalize them in intercourse and its preliminaries, nor in expenditure on maintenance and clothing, provided he fulfils what is due; nevertheless, if he can observe equality in these matters, it is commendable.

Section

When he marries a virgin, he should remain with her for seven nights; if she has been previously married, for three nights, after which he resumes the normal rotation among all his wives.

He has the right to discipline them for neglecting obligatory duties. If a wife disobeys him, he should first admonish her; if she persists, he may forsake her in bed for as long as he wishes and refrain from speaking to her for no more than three days. Should she still persist, he may strike her lightly—no more than ten lashes—and he is barred from doing so if he himself is withholding any of her rights.