Question
A Muslim man has three wives. The second (who was previously a widow) is the full sister of the first. Since it is prohibited to combine two sisters in marriage, does marrying the second one end the first’s marriage? Or is the second’s marriage void? All three wives have children. So what is the status of the children born to the second wife? What is the status of the children born to the first wife after the marriage to the second? When the man dies, will the children of all the wives have a right in the inheritance? Will all three wives have a share in the inheritance?
Answer
The second wife, who is the full sister of the first wife, is married while the first wife is alive and still in marriage, so the marriage to the second is void. If the husband and the second wife knew of the prohibition, they will also be punished. The children of the second wife have no right in the inheritance. واللہ اعلم
