Is it permissible for a man to have sexual intercourse with his wife in the last ten nights of Ramadhaan? Would this decrease his reward for fasting, or does it imply that one is not applying the Sunnah? Please advise. An immediate answer would be highly appreciated. May Allaah reward you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is permissible for a man to have sexual intercourse with his wife in the last ten nights of Ramadan. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {It has been made permissible for you the night preceding fasting to go to your wives [for sexual relations]. They are clothing for you and you are clothing for them. Allaah knows that you used to deceive yourselves, so He accepted your repentance and forgave you. So now, have relations with them and seek that which Allaah has decreed for you. And eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the sunset. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the mosques. These are the limits [set by] Allaah, so do not approach them. Thus does Allaah make clear His ordinances to the people that they may become righteous.}[Quran 2: 187]

This does not decrease the reward of fasting or the night voluntary prayers during Ramadan. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to avoid sexual intercourse with his wives during the last ten days of Ramadan and perform I‘tikaaf (ritual seclusion in the Mosque). The best thing is to do this following the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam; otherwise, one is not blameworthy for not doing this but has nonetheless missed out on something good. Some of the Companions would perform I‘tikaaf, while others did not. However, none of them criticized the other.