Polygamous marriage dilemma
Question
I have a dilemma …
I married another woman who I fell in love with, I married her with the justification (to her) and intention (of me) to divorce my first wife as we’ve had some major problems. After a few months, my first has made strides to improve our relationship proving that our marriage does not have to be as bad as it was. At the same time, there had been some disagreement with my second proving that she is not as perfect as I had thought she was.
I am in a dilemma now because I don’t have enough justification to divorce the second (who I have two children from and lived with for 20 years) nor do I have the ability to keep both relationships (I live in the US which is where the first one lives, the second one lives in Tunisia. To bring her to the US, I would have to be divorced), nor do I have enough justification to divorce the second one (a matter which would be devastating to her). Neither of them would ever agree to be co-married to me at any kind of arrangement. I love and care for them both. What should I do?
I'd appreciate a quick response, May Allah reward you.
Answer
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.
If there is no reason for you to divorce any wife and you love and care for both wives, then you should maintain both marriages to the best of your ability.
And Allaah Ta’aala Knows Best
Muajul I. Chowdhury
Student, Darul Iftaa
Astoria, New York, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
- Answered by
- Muajul I. Chowdhury
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, please ask a Mufti. Report an issue
For corrections or mistakes, please email us at fatawasa786@gmail.com.
Source: Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah — https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/39961
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/askimam-39961
People also ask
What are the rules for taking a second wife?
“As per Islamic Law, polygyny (having more than one wife at a time) is permissible provided that certain conditions are met: Consent of the Woman (Bride): The woman must willingly consent to the marriage without any form of…”
Jamiat KZN · 159 fatawa from 5 Darul Iftas on this
What the Darul Iftas say