That is: if a man has two wives, it is prohibited for him to lodge them together in a single room, because this leads to discord and conflict on account of the jealousy that arises between wives. Even the Mothers of the Believers were jealous; jealousy is part of a woman’s nature.

What the author says is correct if he lodges them together in a single room—there is no doubt about that. But if the house contains separate apartments and he assigns each one her own apartment, there is nothing wrong with this, because each woman has her own independent dwelling. Some people have told me that they keep their wives in one residence because of the harmony and affection between them. In any case, people differ, and the basic ruling is that it is prohibited unless both wives consent. If they consent to it, there is nothing wrong with it.

If it was stipulated at the time of the marriage contract that he would not lodge them together, then the matter is even more emphatic, since it is prohibited here both by virtue of the condition and by virtue of the Sacred Law. Yet if they agree to live in one dwelling, it is permissible, because the right belongs to them.

If the husband becomes weary of this arrangement and wishes to separate their accommodations, but they refuse to be separated, the right belongs to the husband. Thus, if one of them says, “I am content to remain with my co-wife; I enjoy her company and speak with her, and I do not want to part from her,” but the husband is tired of seeing his two wives in one place, then he may separate them.

If they agree to live in one dwelling, but later refuse, then should we say: