Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
I’m a convert to Islam and divorced woman with a daughter that now is 4. I meet this married man that wants to marry me so I would become his second wife. Does his wife have to give her approval on this or is this our decision only? How are we going to establish the time that he must share with each one of us? Can we live near each other?
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad, his folk, companions, and followers
Generally, it is not permitted to enter into such marriage situationseven if the man’s first wife seems to be consentingbecause the general case is that such marriages lead to harm to all involved.
One has to consider how it will affect the man’s first marriage; how it will affect his first wife; any children involved; and also how the likely stresses will affect the second marriage. The experience of scholars and counselors in dealing with such situations (again and again) is that one should avoid such marriages.
If one genuinely feels that a particular case is different, one should refer the full details of the case to a reliable local scholar.
See also:
Answers on Second Marriages
Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani