Objection to Plural Marriage
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Fatwa No. ( 8774 )
Q: My mother has been afflicted by Allah with an illness that has left her bedridden, rendering her unable to fulfill the duties of married life. My father sought treatment for her both inside and outside the Kingdom, but to no avail. Consequently, my father married another woman out of fear for himself of committing zina. He is, praise be to Allah, in good health. We, all his children, agree to his marriage, and my mother is still under his guardianship and is honored. One day, my mother’s younger sister (my aunt) came to the house and asked us to bring my mother to stay with her for a month for the purpose of treatment and care. After the aunt learned of the marriage and a month had passed, we asked her to return my mother to us because her condition had not improved. The aunt refused strongly and categorically. The reason was that the aunt and some of her brothers (my uncles) did not approve of my father’s marriage. When we asked our aunt why she was not pleased with my father’s marriage, she said: “I would prefer your father to commit zina rather than marry over my sister; because he will bear the sin alone.” Some of her brothers (my uncles) said: “Let us suppose your father is the one who is ill; does our sister have the right to demand divorce and marry another man?” My mother was brought back from them by force, out of fear that my father would divorce her. This led me to raise my hand to strike my aunt when a quarrel broke out between her and my uncles, but I sought refuge in Allah from Shaytan and did not do it, praise be to Allah. We are now at ease and living a comfortable life with my mother. A week after the quarrel, I went back to my aunt to apologize to her and to maintain family ties, but to my regret, she did not greet me. Two weeks later
The praise is due to Allah, my mother is in good health, and we, all her children, agree to her marriage, knowing that my mother is under my father's care and is honored. One day, my mother's younger sister (my aunt) came to the house and asked us to bring my mother to stay with her for a month for the purpose of treatment and care. After the aunt learned about the marriage and the month had passed, we asked her to return my mother to us because her condition had not improved, but the aunt refused strongly and categorically. The reason was that the aunt and some of her brothers (my maternal uncles) did not approve of my father's marriage. When we asked our aunt why she was not pleased with my father's marriage, she said: "I would prefer your father to commit zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) than to marry my sister; because he will bear the sin alone." Some of her brothers (my maternal uncles) said: "Let us assume your father is the sick one, does our sister have the right to demand divorce and marry another man?" My mother was brought back from them by force, out of fear that my father would divorce her. This led me to raise my hand to hit my aunt when the quarrel with her and my uncles escalated, but I sought refuge in Allah from Shaytan and did not do it, praise be to Allah. We are now comfortable and living a happy life with my mother. A week after the quarrel, I went back to my aunt to apologize to her and to maintain family ties, but to my regret, she did not greet me. After two weeks
I also visited her again, and she greeted me without any welcome. I live in the city of (Baqi') , so she (my aunt and my uncles) cut off visiting us from our home unless I return to the house in al-Hasa . I live with my father and my brothers in one residence in the city of (Baqi') , while my aunt and uncles live in the city of al-Hasa . I have a second house near them in al-Hasa , which I visit for about three days every month. I sit there, and my aunt comes only to greet my mother, sits with her for about half an hour or more, and then leaves. As for the other uncles who do not approve of the marriage, they have not seen her for about a full year, though some of them visit her every month or two. My aunt does not come to the house where I live in the city of (Baqi') , and even if we stay for a long time, she does not see her sister, although previously she used to visit us every two or three weeks at most. Therefore, O honorable Shaykh, I ask you to answer the following questions: 1 - What is our position as children regarding maintaining family ties with my aunt and uncles? Knowing that they do not respect my father now and do not like to hear his name. Do we maintain ties with them or cut them off until they resolve the issue with my father? My father has not asked us to cut them off, but he encourages me to visit them, yet they do not respect my father, and they also do not receive me
in the manner of reception known to everyone, meaning: affection and love. Knowing that I have requested a reconciliation from my aunt and uncles with my father, and for the family to return to how it was, but we did not reach a result. 2 - What is the ruling on the permissibility of marrying four women? And when is it prescribed for a Muslim to marry four women? 3 - What is the consequence for one who commands zina or advises it, may Allah protect us, in order to prevent marriage to his wife? 4 - What is the position of my aunt and uncles in this matter, are they correct or wrong regarding my father's action?
A: If the situation is as described: First: You must maintain ties with your relatives—your aunt and uncles—even if they have cut you off, do not return your visits, and do not meet you with a pleasant face. You will have the reward of maintaining ties, and they will bear the sin of severing them. Second: Plural marriage is permissible for one who is able to fulfill their duties and does not fear injustice or failing to be just among them in lodging. Third: One who dislikes plural marriage and advises against it, and sees for himself or for others that they should not have multiple wives—even if that leads to zina—has erred in his belief,
and has sinned in his speech and advice to others. He must repent to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and retract his statement and advice. Fourth: If the situation of your aunt and uncles is as you described, they are wrong in severing family ties and being stern with your father and his children. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: My mother has been afflicted by Allah with an illness that has left her bedridden, rendering her unable to fulfill the duties of married life. My father sought treatment for her both inside and outside the Kingdom, but to no avail. Consequently, my father married another woman out of fear for himself of committing zina. He is, praise be to Allah, in good health. We, all his children, agree to his marriage, and my mother is still under his guardianship and is honored. One day, my mother’s younger sister (my aunt) came to the house and asked us to bring my mother to stay with her for a month for the purpose of treatment and care. After the aunt learned of the marriage and a month had passed, we asked her to return my mother to us because her condition had not improved. The aunt refused strongly and categorically. The reason was that the aunt and some of her brothers (my uncles) did not approve of my father’s marriage. When we asked our aunt why she was not pleased with my father’s marriage, she said: “I would prefer your father to commit zina rather than marry over my sister; because he will bear the sin alone.” Some of her brothers (my uncles) said: “Let us suppose your father is the one who is ill; does our sister have the right to demand divorce and marry another man?” My mother was brought back from them by force, out of fear that my father would divorce her. This led me to raise my hand to strike my aunt when a quarrel broke out between her and my uncles, but I sought refuge in Allah from Shaytan and did not do it, praise be to Allah. We are now at ease and living a comfortable life with my mother. A week after the quarrel, I went back to my aunt to apologize to her and to maintain family ties, but to my regret, she did not greet me. Two weeks later
The praise is due to Allah, my mother is in good health, and we, all her children, agree to her marriage, knowing that my mother is under my father's care and is honored. One day, my mother's younger sister (my aunt) came to the house and asked us to bring my mother to stay with her for a month for the purpose of treatment and care. After the aunt learned about the marriage and the month had passed, we asked her to return my mother to us because her condition had not improved, but the aunt refused strongly and categorically. The reason was that the aunt and some of her brothers (my maternal uncles) did not approve of my father's marriage. When we asked our aunt why she was not pleased with my father's marriage, she said: "I would prefer your father to commit zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) than to marry my sister; because he will bear the sin alone." Some of her brothers (my maternal uncles) said: "Let us assume your father is the sick one, does our sister have the right to demand divorce and marry another man?" My mother was brought back from them by force, out of fear that my father would divorce her. This led me to raise my hand to hit my aunt when the quarrel with her and my uncles escalated, but I sought refuge in Allah from Shaytan and did not do it, praise be to Allah. We are now comfortable and living a happy life with my mother. A week after the quarrel, I went back to my aunt to apologize to her and to maintain family ties, but to my regret, she did not greet me. After two weeks
I also visited her again, and she greeted me without any welcome. I live in the city of (Baqi') , so she (my aunt and my uncles) cut off visiting us from our home unless I return to the house in al-Hasa . I live with my father and my brothers in one residence in the city of (Baqi') , while my aunt and uncles live in the city of al-Hasa . I have a second house near them in al-Hasa , which I visit for about three days every month. I sit there, and my aunt comes only to greet my mother, sits with her for about half an hour or more, and then leaves. As for the other uncles who do not approve of the marriage, they have not seen her for about a full year, though some of them visit her every month or two. My aunt does not come to the house where I live in the city of (Baqi') , and even if we stay for a long time, she does not see her sister, although previously she used to visit us every two or three weeks at most. Therefore, O honorable Shaykh, I ask you to answer the following questions: 1 - What is our position as children regarding maintaining family ties with my aunt and uncles? Knowing that they do not respect my father now and do not like to hear his name. Do we maintain ties with them or cut them off until they resolve the issue with my father? My father has not asked us to cut them off, but he encourages me to visit them, yet they do not respect my father, and they also do not receive me
in the manner of reception known to everyone, meaning: affection and love. Knowing that I have requested a reconciliation from my aunt and uncles with my father, and for the family to return to how it was, but we did not reach a result. 2 - What is the ruling on the permissibility of marrying four women? And when is it prescribed for a Muslim to marry four women? 3 - What is the consequence for one who commands zina or advises it, may Allah protect us, in order to prevent marriage to his wife? 4 - What is the position of my aunt and uncles in this matter, are they correct or wrong regarding my father's action?
A: If the situation is as described: First: You must maintain ties with your relatives—your aunt and uncles—even if they have cut you off, do not return your visits, and do not meet you with a pleasant face. You will have the reward of maintaining ties, and they will bear the sin of severing them. Second: Plural marriage is permissible for one who is able to fulfill their duties and does not fear injustice or failing to be just among them in lodging. Third: One who dislikes plural marriage and advises against it, and sees for himself or for others that they should not have multiple wives—even if that leads to zina—has erred in his belief,
and has sinned in his speech and advice to others. He must repent to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and retract his statement and advice. Fourth: If the situation of your aunt and uncles is as you described, they are wrong in severing family ties and being stern with your father and his children. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.