Is it a condition for a man who wants to marry a second wife that he must inform the first wife?

The questioner : Okay, by the way, Shaykh, does that mean that if a man marries a second woman secretly in another house without his wife's knowledge, this is considered a mistake according to what I understood from you?

The Shaykh : It is a mistake, but not from the legal perspective; it is a mistake from the political perspective. It is not necessary for him to tell his wife, "I want to marry." It is not necessary. However, to avoid the problems that may occur, he should prepare the ground, as we said in the discussion. It is not a condition of the second marriage contract.

The questioner : Shaykh, we observe that in society, men complain about their wives, saying they are lazy, tired, not religious in raising the children, not active in serving the house as they should be. There are many things, as you mentioned, that are private within the home, and not everything that is known should be said.

The Shaykh : And this.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good. You said that there are private matters between spouses. You are aware of Allah's favor—Mighty and Majestic— in that He permitted... The disbelievers say that a man picks up one woman and leaves another because of how much he has. So if, by Allah, a man is a true man, is there...? On the contrary, this is praise, not blame.

The Shaykh: Certainly.

The questioner : And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . So what is there besides a reason and desire, and besides desire and non-desire? And the husband is blamed if he marries because the matter is about sex and not sex .

The Shaykh : My brother, it is better for him to direct his desire toward what is lawful than to direct it toward what is forbidden.

The questioner : There is no power and no strength except by Allah! And then, if a balanced woman came and said, "I am initially agreeable. We want her, meaning, what do we want in her heart? Allah will hold her accountable. She said, 'By Allah, let him marry. May Allah bless him, and may our Lord bring good, and may he be successful. By Allah, we are content with patience and we will bear it.' Aisha, the daughter of al-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the master of the children of Adam (peace and blessings be upon him), would she have been pleased if they had consulted her about his marrying Umm Salimah, or not? There is no power and no strength except by Allah. Her fitrah (innate natural disposition) would not accept such a thing.