A man has two wives, and one of them gave birth while the other did not; how should he give to them?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh: A man has two wives, O Shaykh, and it is customary in our country to give a gift after post-natal bleeding. Is he obligated that if one of the wives gives birth, he must give to both in the name of justice and to prevent problems, or does he give only to the one who gave birth, even if, for example, the second one is delayed... one year, two years, three years?
The Shaykh : The principle is that he is not obligated to give to the other one who did not give birth. Likewise, if the other one who did not give birth later gives birth and the second one has not given birth, he gives to her and not to the second one. Justice is to equalize between them in giving, meaning: if he gives one hundred to the one who gave birth first, he gives one hundred to the other.
The questioner : If she gave birth, or even if she did not give birth?
The Shaykh : No, if she gave birth. He is not obligated to do so before she gives birth. But if he fears problems and sees that he should give to both whenever one gives birth, giving to both to prevent problems, then that is good in the sense of reconciliation.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : The principle is that he is not obligated to give to the other one who did not give birth. Likewise, if the other one who did not give birth later gives birth and the second one has not given birth, he gives to her and not to the second one. Justice is to equalize between them in giving, meaning: if he gives one hundred to the one who gave birth first, he gives one hundred to the other.
The questioner : If she gave birth, or even if she did not give birth?
The Shaykh : No, if she gave birth. He is not obligated to do so before she gives birth. But if he fears problems and sees that he should give to both whenever one gives birth, giving to both to prevent problems, then that is good in the sense of reconciliation.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.