Is it permissible to marry secretly a woman of the People of the Book without Muslim witnesses or a dowry, in a country that prohibits polygyny, and without the knowledge of the first wife, who strongly opposes polygyny, in order to protect oneself from temptation?

You must strive to leave the lands of the disbelievers if you fear temptation, as it is not permissible to reside there if it is highly probable that temptation will occur. If returning to your homeland is not possible, you may choose another Islamic country. If leaving altogether is impossible, then you must strive against your lower self and take measures to safeguard against temptations. In this case, marrying a second wife becomes obligatory if it repels the surge of desires. There is no difference in this regard between the first and second marriage, and some scholars have even recommended marrying two wives. As for marrying a woman of the People of the Book, it is permissible under specific conditions, with the obligation that the witnesses be Muslim, as witnesses are a pillar of the marriage contract.