Hadith Text & Context

"By Him in Whose Hand is my life, when a man calls his wife to his bed, and she does not respond, the One Who is in the heaven is displeased with her until he (her husband) is pleased with her."

This profound narration from Sahih Muslim 1436c emphasizes the spiritual significance of marital relations and the wife's responsiveness to her husband's legitimate call to intimacy.

Scholarly Commentary

The scholars explain that this hadith establishes the obligatory nature of a wife responding to her husband's invitation to intimacy, provided there is no legitimate Islamic excuse such as menstruation, illness, or fasting obligatory fasts.

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani notes that the severe wording "the One Who is in the heaven is displeased with her" indicates the gravity of refusing without valid reason, as it constitutes disobedience to both the husband and Allah.

Al-Nawawi comments that this displeasure continues until reconciliation occurs and the husband becomes pleased with his wife, highlighting the importance of maintaining marital harmony.

Spiritual Dimensions

The hadith connects earthly marital conduct with divine pleasure, teaching that fulfilling marital rights is an act of worship that draws one closer to Allah.

Scholars emphasize that this ruling applies equally to both spouses in terms of fulfilling each other's intimate needs, though the wording addresses the wife specifically in this narration.

The exception of valid excuses shows Islam's balanced approach, considering both spiritual obligations and human circumstances.

Practical Application

This teaching encourages mutual responsiveness and attentiveness to marital needs, fostering stronger bonds between spouses.

Scholars caution against misinterpreting this as license for oppression, noting that husbands must also fulfill their wives' rights and approach intimacy with kindness and consideration.

The ultimate wisdom is creating households filled with mutual love, mercy, and divine pleasure through fulfilling mutual rights.