He replied:

He must treat both wives equitably and may not favour either of them in the division of his time, for the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Whoever has two wives and inclines towards one more than the other will come on the Day of Resurrection with one side of his body leaning.”

If he does not treat them equitably, he must either maintain the marriage on fair terms or end it with kindness. And Allah knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

If a man abstains from intercourse with his wife for a month or two, is he sinful? Can the husband be required to have intercourse with her?

He replied:

A man must have intercourse with his wife in a reasonable manner. This is among her most binding rights over him, greater even than her right to food. As for “obligatory intercourse,” some say that it is obligatory once every four months. Others say that its frequency should be according to her need and his ability, just as he provides her with food according to her need and his means. This is the more correct of the two views. And Allah knows best.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked: (*)

What about a woman who inserts a medicine into herself at the time of intercourse to prevent semen from entering the passages through which conception takes place? Is this permissible and lawful? If the medicine remains inside her after intercourse and does not come out, may she pray and fast after performing the ritual bath?