Is it sufficient for a man to register the marital home in the names of his children from his first wife, or must he register it in the names of his first wife and her children, in order to ensure justice between his two wives and please his Lord?
Justice among wives is obligatory regarding overnight stays. However, justice in spending, gifts, and donations is a matter of scholarly disagreement. Registering the house in the wife's name, if it is a will, is not permissible without the consent of the heirs, based on the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "No will for an heir." If it is a gift, some scholars believe that a husband's gift of his dwelling house to his wife is invalid, and most scholars stipulate possession for a gift to be valid. Therefore, your gift is not valid unless you vacate the house. For gifts to children, justice among them is required, and you are not obliged to give a gift to your wife along with them. It is not permissible to give a gift or make a will with the intention of harming any of the heirs. It is advisable to be just between the two wives and to leave the wealth undivided, based on Imam Ahmad's statement: "I prefer that he not divide his wealth but leave it according to Allah's ordinances, perhaps he may have more children."
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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