What is the legitimate ruling on a second marriage without the first wife's knowledge, with a promise of justice between the two wives once the first one finds out?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Allah has permitted a man to marry more than one woman if he is able to be just between them. If one of the wives relinquishes her right to a share [of his time and provision] or part of it, there is no harm in that. However, if she demands her right, then justice becomes obligatory. Thus, there is no sin in marrying another woman and not being just between her and the first one, with her consent. But if her consent is conditional upon the first wife not knowing, then justice becomes obligatory when the first wife learns about it. Indeed, she has the right to demand justice even if the first wife does not know.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/57181
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 57181
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy