Unfair Treatment of Co-Wives
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One of the things that Allah has enjoined in His Book is fair treatment of co-wives . Allah says
:
"
You will never be able to do perfect justice between wives even if it is your ardent desire , so do not incline too much to one of them ( by giving her more of your time and provision ) so as to leave the other hanging ( i.e., neither divorced nor married ) And if you do justice , and do all that is right and fear Allah by keeping away from all that is wrong , then Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving , Most Merciful
."
[ Surah an-Nisaa' (4):129 ]
The justice that is required here is a fair division of nights , and giving each wife her rights as regards spending and clothing . This does not refer to emotions or love , for humans have no control over their feelings . Some people , though , when they marry more than one wife favor one and neglect the other . They spend more time and money on one wife , while they ignore the other . This is haraam ( forbidden ) , and the person who does this will come on the Day of Resurrection in the condition described by the Prophet:salla: in the Hadeeth ( Speech ) narrated by Abu Hurayrah
:
"
Whoever has two wives and gives one of them preferential treatment , he will come on the Day of Resurrection with half of his body leaning / disfigured
".
[ Narrated by Abu Dawud , 2/601 ; see also Saheeh al-Jaami' , 6491 ]
