By: Qari Usama bin Abdul Salam
Those men are criminals — whether religious scholars, politicians, or worldly-minded — who fail to uphold justice between their two wives.
Prophetic Hadith ﷺ:
"Whoever has two wives and leans towards one of them (showing favoritism), will come on the Day of Judgment with half his body leaning (paralyzed)."
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 2133)
Allah ﷻ has made justice the foundation of all human relationships, and in marriage, it is even more crucial.
If a man has two wives, he is legally, morally, and Islamically responsible for both.
If he:
…then this is oppression, and oppression will be repaid on the Day of Judgment.
Justice in this context covers:
Allah ﷻ says:
"But if you fear that you will not be just, then (marry) only one…"
(An-Nisa: 3)
Men who do not maintain justice between wives are criminals before their Lord, even if the world sees them as pious, successful, or honorable.
Their worship, preaching, and fame may hold no weight in Allah’s sight if they committed oppression inside their own home.
A husband who fails to do justice is a ẓālim (oppressor).
And the Qur’an’s verdict is:
"Indeed, Allah does not love the oppressors."
On the Day when there will be no shade except Allah’s shade, the man who maintained justice between his wives will be under the shade of Allah’s Throne.
The Crime in the Sight of Allah
Those men are criminals — whether religious scholars, politicians, or worldly-minded — who fail to uphold justice between their two wives.
Prophetic Hadith ﷺ:
"Whoever has two wives and leans towards one of them (showing favoritism), will come on the Day of Judgment with half his body leaning (paralyzed)."
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 2133)
Why This Crime is So Serious
Allah ﷻ has made justice the foundation of all human relationships, and in marriage, it is even more crucial.
If a man has two wives, he is legally, morally, and Islamically responsible for both.
If he:
- Gives more time to one,
- Spends more money on one,
- Shows more affection to one,
- And neglects the other —
…then this is oppression, and oppression will be repaid on the Day of Judgment.
Regardless of Who He Is
- If he is a religious scholar yet fails to do justice — he is a criminal before Allah.
- If he is a politician who keeps one wife for public image and abandons the other — he will be held accountable before Allah.
- If he is a worldly man who favors one wife out of lust and oppresses the other — he will be humiliated on the Day of Judgment.
What Justice Includes
Justice in this context covers:
- Equal housing conditions
- Equal division of time
- Equal financial support, clothing, and medical care
- Equal treatment in behavior, manners, and kindness
- Even fairness in spending the nights
Allah ﷻ says:
"But if you fear that you will not be just, then (marry) only one…"
(An-Nisa: 3)
A Warning to Men
Men who do not maintain justice between wives are criminals before their Lord, even if the world sees them as pious, successful, or honorable.
Their worship, preaching, and fame may hold no weight in Allah’s sight if they committed oppression inside their own home.
Summary
A husband who fails to do justice is a ẓālim (oppressor).
And the Qur’an’s verdict is:
"Indeed, Allah does not love the oppressors."
On the Day when there will be no shade except Allah’s shade, the man who maintained justice between his wives will be under the shade of Allah’s Throne.
