Practicing birth control without the husband's knowledge and abstaining from having intercourse with him

Q: I have been married for twenty years. From the first day, my wife showed dislike to having sexual relations and I almost have to beg her to accept. I even informed her family but none of them did anything, for they believe that it is the best way for a wife to control her husband. Now, my wife takes contraceptive pills while I want to have children. We have four daughters and a son and my wife has been taking the pills for ten years now, (Part No. 19; Page No. 324) without any medical reason. Please give us your answer: Is she mistaken? What is the ruling of Shari`ah (Islamic law) on this?

A: If the reality is as you mentioned, she is mistaken and she has committed a sin for two reasons. First, she has taken contraceptive pills without medical reasons, as you said. Second, she refused to have sexual intercourse with you when you asked her. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and lets him sleep while angry, the angels will curse her until the morning." (Related by Ahmad, Al-Bukhari, and Muslim) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.