Her father does not want her to marry a married man
Fatwa No: 92516

Question

Assalamou alaykoum, I am a muslim woman al hamdoulilah and recently I met a brother from the US who is already married twice. He wants me to be his third wife. That brother is a very good person and he is a a good muslim. I spoke many times with his second wife and al hamdoulilah, we get along very well. I really love this brother for the sake of Allah and I know he can be a good husband and father. The problem now is that I don't know if I am strong enough to live the life of polygamy, I don't want to be so jelaous and create tensions in our lives. I don't know if I can handle it even if we love each other sincerely. Is love enough in this case? Allahu a'lim. Furthermore, my father said he didn't want me to marry him just because he is already married. But as long as I am not doing something haram, I don't know how to convince my father. I tried to explain my motivations like why this brother and not another but my wali doesn't want to hear from him. This situation makes me so sad, I pray Allah to help me. I don't know if Allah is showing me that I have to give up or if this is only trials to overcome. Please I need advice, and I need you to know what to do. I am being patient al hamdoulilah because I believe that if we are meant to be together, we will be insha'allah. But I just need advice because my situation is quite complicated as I've never imagined I could marry a married brother. Jazakou allahou koulli khayr, Wasalam alikoum

Answer

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

If this man is, as you mentioned in the question, religious and has a good moral character, then it is advisable for you to marry him. Being a third wife or thinking that you will be jealous is not an obstacle for marriage neither in a religious point of view nor in regard to customs.

The Prophet married many wives and it happened sometimes that they were jealous between themselves.

It might be that there are some religious benefits in such a marriage would help the woman overlook and disregard such matters. Therefore, it is very important that you perform the Istikhaarah prayer; for more benefit on how to perform the Istikhaarah prayer, please refer to Fatwa 81434.

As regards your father, first you should seek the help of Allaah in trying to convince him, and then the help of some knowledgeable people and those who are very close to him. Then, if he agrees for you to marry that man, all perfect praise be to Allaah, but if he refuses and provides you with an acceptable religious reason, you are obliged to obey him, as you are obliged to obey your father in what is permissible while on the other hand you are not obliged to marry this specific man.

Finally, it should be noted that if it happens after performing the Istikhaarah prayer that you are not married to him, it might be that Allaah repelled harm from, and He may facilitate for you another husband who is better than him. Allaah Says (what means): {But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allaah Knows, while you know not.}[Quran 2:216]. 

Allaah Knows best.

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