Question:
If a man wants to marry a second wife, must he inform or obtain permission from the first wife?
Answer:
Marriage is a contract. In different cultures, expectations differ. In some societies (like ours), marriage is assumed exclusive — the wife assumes: “He will remain only my husband.”
In some Arab cultures, multiple marriage possibility is assumed from the starting itself. So, the meaning embedded in the marriage contract depends on societal understanding.
Even if not verbally stated, cultural understanding becomes part of the contract expectation.
This issue must be examined carefully within:
- Cultural context
- Legal conditions
- Justice requirement between wives
When a man marries a second wife while the first wife is still married to him, will the rights (haq) of the first wife be affected or not?
The first wife has been living fully as his spouse. If he marries another wife:
- The days must be divided between them.
- Expenses must be divided.
- If he dies, inheritance that would have gone fully to one wife will now be divided among multiple wives.
So clearly, her rights are affected.
If she married him believing he would be her only husband, and now that condition changes, then the original understanding of the contract changes.
Marriage is described in Surah An-Nisa (4:21) as a “strong covenant” (meethaqan ghaleezha). Marriage is not a light matter — it is a serious binding agreement. The meaning of the agreement depends on social understanding.
In our society, when a girl marries, she believes: “He will be only my husband.”
If she knew he would marry multiple wives, she might refuse marriage. So in our cultural context, monogamy is assumed — even if not verbally stated.
Therefore, if a man now intends to change that understanding, he must inform her. He cannot secretly alter the contract.
Evidence from the Prophetﷺ regarding the marriage between Ali (RA) and Fatimah (RA). to While Fatimah (RA) was alive, Ali (RA) considered marrying the daughter of Abu Jahl (who had embraced Islam). This news reached the Prophetﷺ.
What did he do? He did not quietly ignore it. He addressed the matter publicly from the pulpit. He said: “Fatimah is part of me. I fear she will be hurt.”
He also mentioned that he had earlier married his daughter Zaynab to Abu Al-‘As, and he had kept his promise and did not marry another woman while married to her. The Prophetﷺ then declared: “I do not permit Ali to marry another woman unless he divorces my daughter first.”
This is recorded in Bukhari (5230). So, what do we learn?
Conditions matter. Promises matter. Social understanding matters.
If the agreement includes exclusivity — then breaking it is breaking a covenant.
Conclusion on Second Marriage is that, in some societies where polygyny is culturally assumed (like some Arab contexts), no such conflict arises because women enter marriage with that understanding, but in our context, exclusivity is assumed.
So, he must inform her.
- If she refuses, he must settle matters properly.
- If she wants divorce, give her rights and separation.
- Secret marriage is deception and leads to lying and continuous sin.
Islam does not permit deception.