Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterDealing with a Husband Who May Marry a Second Wife
Question
Asalamualacum. I know polygyny is halal in Islam. I accept that but I can’t stop thinking about these things and I feel terrible about myself if it happened to me. If the husband told the second wife that he doesn’t love his first wife and he’s just with her for the kids and told her all her faults, is this allowed? What if the husband who got married to second for love after having arranged first marriage hates his first wife and ruined her marriage experience? Does she have to stay with him?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
There is no doubt that it is natural for a wife to feel jealous over her husband and not to be pleased with the idea of him marrying another woman. However, constantly thinking about such matters, especially when it hasn’t actually happened, as appears to be the case here, is of no benefit. A woman should not allow herself to be carried away by these thoughts, as they may bring her harm rather than good. Such thinking can open the door for the devil to cause grief to her and disrupt her peace of mind without any real purpose. Hence, it is better for her to occupy herself with what is beneficial for her in both her religious and worldly affairs.
Furthermore, if we assume that the husband has actually married a second wife, and he speaks negatively about his first wife, this is considered backbiting, which is prohibited. Allah says: {And do not backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would detest it. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Accepting of Repentance and the Most Merciful.} [Quran 49: 12]
Lastly, the mere fact that a husband has married a second wife is not, in itself, a valid reason for the first wife to seek divorce. However, if she suffers clear and significant harm as a result, then it is permissible for her to request a divorce. She is not obligated to remain in the marriage under such circumstances. Still, she should not rush into seeking divorce; rather, she should take time to consider whether it is truly the best option for her to seek divorce or not.
Allah knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
