The Wisdom of Plural Marriage and the Ruling on a Woman Seeking Divorce on That Account

Question:
May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good. He says: When we discuss the issues of divorce in Islam, I say that if a woman’s husband marries another woman, she should seek a divorce. I told her that a woman seeking divorce because her husband has married another is forbidden and not permissible. She said, “I know that the Shari'ah forbids this, but I see that she should seek a divorce, and that she has no staying with her husband if he marries a second wife, and that divorce is better for her.” What is the view of the Honorable Shaykh in this dialogue? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This is a false statement. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has permitted a man to marry a second, third, or fourth wife. This is in the interest of women so that they do not remain idle and unmarried. In fact, this is more in their interest than in men's, because men bear a great responsibility, whereas women are provided for and supported, even if there are multiple of them. This is in their interest. The jealousy among them does not prevent this, because there is benefit in it, even if women dislike it by their nature. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: , and His saying: , and Allah makes much good in it. If a man marries another woman, it is not permissible for his first wife to ask for a divorce, unless he harms her or favors his other wife. In that case, she may ask for a divorce to remove the harm from her. However, if he acts justly and fulfills the rights of both wives, the first wife has no right to ask for a divorce in this situation, and she would be sinful if she did, based on what came in the hadith: It is forbidden for her. Marrying another wife is something Allah has made lawful for him. If he acts justly, it is not permissible for his first wife to ask for a divorce, and if she does, she is sinful, as in this hadith.