Placing Conditions for Marriage

By Mufti Taqi Usmani
Posted: 18 Safar 1424, 20 April 2003


Q.) Can a wife make a condition when she is marrying that husband is not allowed to take a second wife? Will such a condition be valid?

A.) A woman can put such a condition before marrying, but according to Hanafi Jurists, it will not be binding on the husband in legal terms. However, it may be taken as a promise, and the husband is under a moral obligation to fulfill the condition, and not marry a second wife. If he violates this moral condition without a valid reason, he will be committing the sin of backing out of the promise, but no legal remedy can be sought against him.