We said that it is permissible for a man to seek permission from his wives to stay with the other, so how is that?
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The questioner : Shaykh, we said in the hadith, in the hadith of Ibrahim ibn Musa, in the hadith of Aisha, that it is permissible for a man to seek permission from one of his wives regarding the others if he wants to stay with her. Shaykh, is it permissibility or obligation?
The Shaykh : The permissibility here is in contrast to prohibition. We do not tell a person, "Do not consult them," because they might grant permission out of modesty and shyness. We say, "There is no harm; seek their permission."
The questioner : Is it not an obligation?
The Shaykh : If we say "permissible," which is the opposite of "forbidden," what does that mean? It does not contradict obligation. This is a known principle in the principles of jurisprudence: if you are told to do something, it does not contradict obligation. Otherwise, it is their right. We only told you to do it so that no one would say, "It is known that if a husband consults his wives, they might be shy or embarrassed and grant permission." We say, even if this possibility is likely, let him do it; there is no obstacle.
The Shaykh : The permissibility here is in contrast to prohibition. We do not tell a person, "Do not consult them," because they might grant permission out of modesty and shyness. We say, "There is no harm; seek their permission."
The questioner : Is it not an obligation?
The Shaykh : If we say "permissible," which is the opposite of "forbidden," what does that mean? It does not contradict obligation. This is a known principle in the principles of jurisprudence: if you are told to do something, it does not contradict obligation. Otherwise, it is their right. We only told you to do it so that no one would say, "It is known that if a husband consults his wives, they might be shy or embarrassed and grant permission." We say, even if this possibility is likely, let him do it; there is no obstacle.