Is it permissible for the husband to bring one wife into the house of another wife without the latter’s consent?
Question: 163531
My friend’s husband brought his 2nd wife in to her flat when she wasn’t there (without her permission) and now when she came to know it he is saying this is his house and he can bring anybody into it, asking her to show evidence from the Quran and sunnah where it says he can’t bring her co-wife in her house without her permission..please let us know what is correct according to Quran and sunnah.
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
What seems to be the case is that the husband has no right to
do that, unless the wife whose house it is gives permission and approves of
it, because of what is well known of women’s jealousy in most cases and the
desire of each woman to have her house to herself.
This prohibition is further emphasised in the case asked
about here, namely bringing her into the house in the absence of the wife
whose house it is, because of the suspicion that he may engage in intimacy
with her in the house of the other wife; it is well known that this would
cause upset to her.
Ash-Shaykh Sulayman al-Majid (may Allah preserve him) was
asked:
Is it my right that my husband should ask me for my
permission when he invites his second wife to our house? Please note that he
says that it is up to me. May Allah benefit us with your knowledge.
He replied:
If there is any discomfort caused to either of the co-wives
by meeting the other, it is not permissible for the husband to encourage
them to do that. But it is recommended for a woman to try to be on good
terms with her co-wife and uphold ties with her even if that is at the
minimal level, because cutting off ties between them usually leads to
cutting off ties between the children, and cutting off ties between the
children will affect them in both worldly and spiritual terms. In worldly
terms it is a denial of the rights of siblings and not benefitting from
their help. It causes loss of barakah and shortens lifespans because of
cutting off ties.
In terms of the Hereafter, it brings a grievous penalty.
Hence the wife should think in the long term and for the sake of that she
should put up with anything she encounters from her co-wife. She should
understand her husband’s aim, which is to establish a good relationship
among his children; this cannot usually be achieved except through some
relationship between the co-wives. But it is not permissible for the husband
to force his wife to do anything that is upsetting to her.
And Allah knows best.
End quote from the Shaykh’s website:
http://www.salmajed.com/node/11187
And Allah knows best.
Source:
Islam Q&A
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