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Fatwa CenterThe first wife should not embarrass the second one
Question
I have been happily married for several years, both my wife and I are practising Muslims. Recently I married a widow with children hoping Allah's reward if I successfully give good life to both families. I did not take my first wife's consent since it was not required in Shariah and believed my first wife will adopt to the new life as she was also very religious and a Daee. However my first wife is very upset about this affair and asking me to either divorce her or the second wife. She cannot tolerate this way of life. I gave my promise to my second wife that I will give her and her children a good life and will not leave her due to anybody else's pressure. Now the situation is getting worse and I find it difficult to give an equitable life to my second wife. My question is, if I divorce my second wife due to the pressure from my first wife, will that be written as a sin on my part? My second wife will not forgive me as this matter has caused her so much bad name in the society and if I am to divorce her as well. Please also advise the Shariah point in the first wife asking for the second wife's divorce.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The first wife is not allowed to ask her husband to divorce his second wife, let alone, forcing him to divorce her. The Prophet said: “A Muslim woman shall not try to bring about the divorce of her sister (the second wife of her husband) in order to take her place herself.” [Reported by Imaams Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
So, we advise you to continue your life with your second wife and deal justly between both wives. Remind your first wife that she should fear Allah and should neither ask the divorce of her co-wife nor ask you to divorce her. The Prophet said: “A woman who asks her husband to divorce her without a legal reason, the scent of Paradise will be forbidden for her.” [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi and he graded it as Hasan]
Know that it is permissible to marry a second wife, if it were harmful the Sharee’ah would not have permitted it. We ask Allah to guide your wife to the right path and reconcile matters between you and your wife, Allah is Almighty and all the matters are in His Hands.
Allah Knows best.
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