assalam alikum. i've been married for 7years but till now i dont have no children due to my wife's medical problem. i would like to know if it is permissible for me to make a second marriage,knowing that i can't treat both my wives equally , as i would always love my first wife more. and i plan to keep them in separate countries, i would live with first wife. Or is it better for me not to get married and have patience and keep making dua for children with my first wife only. is there any reward for the person who does not have any children. thank you.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

It is permissible for a man to marry more than one wife if he is able to do so, provided that he does justice between his wives. The justice that is due on the husband includes obligatory maintenance, and spending the night with them. It is due on the husband to stay with all his wives for equal periods of time, and it is impermissible for the husband to spend more time with a particular wife than with another without her consent - whether they live in the same country or in different countries – unless one of them gives up her right of the husband's stay with her. For further information, see Fatwa 90663.

It is not due on the husband to be just in his love (inclination of the heart), as previously shown in Fatwa 88728.

Based on this, if you are capable of marriage, and desire to have children, it is preferable that you marry, and be keen on doing justice between your two wives, unless the second wife accepts that you give the first wife preference over her.

Also, your marriage to a second wife should not prevent you from striving in supplicating Allaah to grant you a good offspring from your present wife, since Allaah has power over all things. If Allaah's will is that you have no offspring, and you are patient and content with the decree of Allaah The Almighty, you will be rewarded for your patience and contentment.

Allaah Knows best.