The man before Islam used to swear not to have sexual intercourse with his wife and keep away from her for a long time. This is called ‘Ilaa.’ Hence, Islam came to preserve the dignity of the woman as well as the nature of the relationship between the man and the woman. Allah the Almighty says:

( لِّلَّذِينَ يُؤْلُونَ مِن نِّسَائِهِمْ تَرَبُّصُ أَرْبَعَةِ أَشْهُرٍ ۖ…) (For those who swear not to have sexual relations with their wives is a waiting time of four months,.…): Meaning, if they give up the ‘Ilaa’ Allah (swt) will be forgiving and merciful. Yet, divorce is the solution if they insist on that. The matter, then, should be taken up to the judge to rule with divorce. The woman has the right to ask for divorce if such thing continues. Islam has put the rights and dignity of the woman at the first place. A waiting time of four months either they undo the ‘Ilaa’ oath or get divorced