First wife threatening divorce for taking on a second wife


Question 361:

A brother in USA who has been married over 25 years and has teenage and small children would like to marry a second wife but his first wife threatens she will get divorced from him if he does this and she will take the kids from him so he is afraid of harming his family, but he fears he may fall into sin if he does not soon marry another.

What is your naseehah to this brother and his wife, may Allah reward you with good.

Answer :

Shaykh advised his wife that she should fear Allah and if her husband can do the justice between the wives then she should not prevent him for doing what is permitted for him.

And Shaykh said, if it is possible by his marriage to second wife that his first wife takes away his children from him and they will go waste due to lack of good guardianship, then he should be patient.

[He can fast if he fears for himself of falling into sin as advised by Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

“O young men! Those among you who have the ability for marriage, let them marry, as it is more able to lower the gaze (i.e., from looking at forbidden things) and guard the private parts (i.e., chastity, from illegal sexual acts); but those who cannot should observe Sawm (Fasting), for it will remove their sexual desire.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim) – Translator]

Answered by : Shaykh Abu Bilal Al Hadhrami

Translated the summary of the answer by : AbdunNoor Al Hindi