Some people think that the command for a woman to have sex with her husband any time he approaches her is oppressive to women. On the contrary, it is a form of protection. There are some analogues to hijab here, because hijab is also viewed by those who lack understanding to be oppressive, and like observing hijab, always being sexually available to her husband can sometimes be uncomfortable or inconvenient for a woman.

To see how this command is protective of women, consider how easily a wife refusing her husband’s advance can become a vicious cycle that damages the marital bond. If a woman refuses sex because she is busy or not feeling well, her husband’s desire can easily be directed somewhere else. It may be looking at a video of a woman, chatting with a woman, or something similar.

When almost any woman sees such behavior from her husband, she can easily become upset. This can lead her to feel further repelled from him, or to be emotionally detached during sex, making the sex less satisfying for both her and the husband, further damaging the marriage and further pushing the husband to seek other outlets for his desire. This may not be an intentional decision by the husband, but it can put him at an elevated risk of developing a connection with another woman. If this happens, it can easily result in still more detachment, leading to a vicious cycle which ends in divorce.

There are surely more benefits to this legislation that may not be apparent. Such is the nature of the law of Allah— the more you analyze it, the more layers of wisdom and benefit you will find.