Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamualaikum wrwb,\

In reference to your statement......

"Some ignorant people assume ‘misyaar’ marriage is a license to perform a ‘secret’ marriage, but that is an absolutely false notion and a grave sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah."

What I know about having more than one wife is, the only conidtion to go for more than one marriage is one has to be just to all of his wives with all the resources he possesses but as far as I know, there is no condition (for 2nd marriage) that a man has to disclose about his second marriage to his present wife/wives. As long as he gives equal time and share equal resources among his wives.

Plz clarify.

Fi amanillah. 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Disclose second marriage

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: What I know about having more than one wife is, the only conidtion to go for more than one marriage is one has to be just to all of his wives with all the resources he possesses

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 3:

3 If ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans marry women of your choice two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them) then only one or (a captive) that your right hands possess. That will be more suitable to prevent you from doing injustice.

It is indeed true and absolutely accurate that the only condition Islam has laid upon the believers who wish to exercise their option of taking on more than one wife is that they are obligated by law to deal equally and justly amongst them in the distribution of the resources he possesses: ie. his wealth and his time.

Your Statement: but as far as I know, there is no condition (for 2nd marriage) that a man has to disclose about his second marriage to his present wife/wives.

It is indeed also accurate that there is absolutely no condition in Islam that a believer who wishes to exercise his right to marry more than once has to seek permission from his first wife.

The believer who wishes to marry more than once may or may not wish to disclose that he intends to marry a second time to his first wife; but because marriage in Islam is not a secret or illicit affair but rather an announced and a social event, and because the wife and the children resulting from a marriage have direct implications on mehram relations and inheritance … whenever a marriage takes place amongst the believers, it is highly encouraged and a preferred Sunnah that the sacred bond between those being married be openly announced to the society one lives in through a ‘walima’ or marriage banquet, so that those in society are well aware of the sacred relationship between the couple.

If one fulfills all the conditions of an Islamic marriage and gets married to a second wife, but keeps his second marriage a secret from everyone in society….although such a marriage, because it fulfilled all the conditions of marriage, will be regarded as valid and legal in the Sight of Shariah Law….keeping the marriage a secret would not be considered piety and righteousness in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan