Is it permissible for a wife to refuse sexual intimacy if her husband requests it very late at night (after 2:00 AM), knowing that she is a working woman who wakes up early to prepare the children for school, and that she stays up late for his sake while he stays up to watch television and prefers that over requesting intimacy earlier?

A wife must obey her husband in intimacy, and this is one of his most emphasized rights upon her. It is not permissible for her to refuse unless there is a legitimate excuse, such as illness, menstruation, or an obligatory fast. As it is stated in the Hadith (definition): "If a man calls his wife to his bed, she must answer, even if she is on the back of a camel." The husband has the right to enjoy his wife at any time and in any manner, as long as it does not harm her or distract her from her obligatory duties. Both spouses should understand each other and consider each other's circumstances.