The ruling of the one who abstains from having intercourse for more than four months without taking an oath about it: The four Madhabs agree that it is not deemed Eelaa’ if a man abstains from having intercourse with his wife – although he is physically able to - for more than four months without taking an oath about it.
2. The wisdom of timing it for a period of four months:
a. Allah has limited it to four months to make a way out for the wife to discipline the husband and remind him of her right to good companionship and kindness.
b. Allah has allowed it as a means to discipline recalcitrant wives by allowing their husbands to refrain from having intercourse with them for four months or less.