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:

If a man decides to take a second wife, and both the wives come a mutual understanding on the time the husband spends with each of them, say 60% of the time with the first wife and 40% of time with the second wife. Is it still a sin on the husband for not being fair with the time he spends with both the wives?

Could you please consider this urgent?

May Allah bless you with the light you spread. 

(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:

Share time with two wives

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 3451 Narrated by Hadrat Aisha (r.a.), Umm al-Mumineen

Never did I find any woman more loving to me than Sawdah bint Zam'ah (r.a.; one of the wives of the Prophet (saws)). I wished I could be exactly like her. As she (Hadrat Sawdah (r.a.)) became old, she gave over her day (which the Prophet (saws) was to spend with her) to Hadrat Aisha (r.a.). She said to the Prophet (saws): ‘I have made over my day with you to Aisha.’ So Allah's Messenger (saws) allotted two days to Hadrat Aisha (r.a.); her own day (when it was her turn) and that of Hadrat Sawdah (r.a.).

(We wish to clarify here that although the Messenger of Allah (saws) was specially exempted by Allah Subhanah and not bound to spend equal time amongst his wives, he (saws) would strive his utmost to do justice amongst his wives.)

If one amongst the wives agrees, of her own free will, to give up some of her lawful rights in the marriage, there is absolutely no harm, and she is well within her rights to do so. Thus if the two wives of a person come to a mutual agreement that their husband spends more time with one wife than the other, or spends more on one wife than the other, there is absolutely no blame or sin on them or their husband.

But if there is no such agreement between the husband and his wives, it is the duty of the husband to fear Allah and make sure that he deals with justice amongst his wives with the distribution of his time and his wealth. If the husband fails to do justice between his wives without an agreement in place, he would indeed be guilty of sin in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 129:

129 Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women (one’s wives) even if it is your ardent desire: but turn not away (from a wife) altogether so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding and practice self-restraint Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 2128 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

The Prophet (saws) said: ‘When a man has two wives and he is inclined to one of them, he will come on the Day of resurrection with a side hanging down.’

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