Section
He must allocate his nights equally among his wives—the night being the unit of apportionment—and it is recommended that he extend the same fairness to sexual relations. He must include in the rotation a wife who is menstruating, ill, or harmlessly insane, and the like (1).

If she travels without his permission, leaves for her own purposes, or becomes rebellious, she is entitled to neither a share of nights nor maintenance (2). She may, with his consent, donate her turn to a co-wife, and he may assign it to whomever he wishes. She may later retract the gift with regard to future nights. No rotation is owed to his concubines or to slave-women who have borne him children.

When a man marries a virgin, he may stay exclusively with her for seven nights before resuming the normal rotation; with a previously married woman, three nights. Should she prefer that he begin dividing his time immediately, he may do so, but he must then make up the seven nights to the remaining wives (3).

Whenever he notices signs of rebellion—such as her refusing his invitation to intimacy or responding with annoyance or reluctance—he should first admonish her. If she persists, he may leave her bed for as long as he wishes and refrain from speaking to her for up to three days. If she still persists, he may discipline her with a light, non-injurious blow.