Husband has married sister in law

[heena11]

Asalamalaikum

My husband has married his sister in law, her husband died last year and his family talked him into marrying her.

I have stayed with my husband for 21 years even though I knew of all his affairs with other women (including the sister in law he married) she has four children all between 19-15 and I have 6 children between 17-7 yrs old. He did not tell me he had done the nikah and I have found out seven months later. He is there everyday in the afternoon as I have followed him. I cannot live with him anymore although I know that men are allowed to remarry.

I would like to know if there is any rules in Islam about wether the husband is allowed to marry without telling his first wife and I would also like to know if if I divorce him through the english courts would I be divorced in Islam or if I would have to go through the islamic way and ask for khula aswell as the english divorce.

Do I have the right to ask for a divorce if I feel I cannot live with my husband anymore, because he is living seperately now but he isn't living with his second wife either because they don't want peaple to know they are married yet.

I have thought very hard about this and I cannot stay with him anymore, I forgave him about all his affairs and drinking but this is the last straw now, I feel hatred towards him whenever I see him, I asked him and his family what I ever did that was so wrong they took this step and ruined my marriage and they have no answer, they just say it is allowed in Isalm.

please help!

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[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu


All Praise be to Allah who is the Lord of the Worlds, and may Endless Blessings be showered upon His Most Beloved, and Final Messenger of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa 'aalihi wa Sallam

From your question, I understand that it is your sister (sister in law) that your husband is married to. If I am incorrect, then by all means post back, unless the answer to the following rule applies to anything I may have missed, as an understanding, otherwise the rule may be appliccable to her also, as you know best.

The rule in relation to sisters, which includes step sisters, sister in law, while he is married to you, and all other sisters for that purpose is derived from the following verse of the Holy Qur'an, and is as follows:

'Prohibited (haram) to you are your mothers, your daughters, sisters, and fathers sisters, your mothers sisters, your brothers daughters, and your mothers who have suckled you, and your foster sisters, and the mothers of your wives, and daughters (step daughters) who are in your care...'


This passage can be found in the Qur'an, and is the last verse of the 4th para. It is surah al-Nisa', ayah no. 23. It details all the women who are unlawful for you to marry, and also includes sisters.

In the Nur-ul-Irfan which is the exegisis to the famous Kanzul-Iman, it is clearly stated that it is haram to keep 2 closely related women in marriage at one time, i.e. you cannot marry a second sister while you are still married to the first.

I hope that this somewhat answers your query, to that part of the question.

It is only in the exceptional of circumstances where a person cannot tell his wife that he is to marry another woman, otherwise it is through the consent of both of you, that he should be allowed to marry. This is common sense. This should be the procedure in todays life.

If you are unhappy with this, and amongst other things, as your husband maybe carrying out unlawful acts such as drinking etc. and he does not take heed, then you must divorce him Islamically and/or through the courts, as the courts will usually carry out this procedure, and if they dont, then you should carry it out, or ask someone to carry it out for you, and may ask for 'khul'a' if you wish to do so. There is not a problem in that.

You have every right to ask for a divorce, if he is neglecting the general principles of Islam, as mentioned above.

Remember, things like salah, provision for food, shelter, co-habiting, looking after children all fall under this right, and if he neglects any, if not all, then you have the right to ask him, especially if he is involved in a case which you stated, and disagree with.

Please post back to let us know what the outcome is, I make du'a that Allah the Almighty guides your husband through good words, and that everything be back to normal again (insha'Allah). Amin.


Jazak'allah for your question.





Wallahu A'lamu Biththawaab


M. Waseem Ashrafi