a solemn covenant. (Q 4:21)

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while addressing the people in his Farewell Sermon, admonished:
“Fear Allah concerning women, for you have taken them as a trust from Allah and have made their private parts lawful to you by the word of Allah. So treat them with kindness.”

11 – Ibn al-Qayyim said: Fulfilling the sound conditions of marriage is even more deserving of observance, for this is required by the revealed law, by reason, and by sound analogy. A woman consents to grant her intimate rights to her husband only on the basis of that condition; if its fulfillment were not obligatory, the contract would not be one of mutual consent.