Chapter on Dividing Time Between Wives

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

What about a man married to two women who loves one more than the other, gives her more clothing and other provisions, and spends more time with her?

He replied:

Praise be to Allah. He must treat his two wives equitably, according to the consensus of the Muslims. In the four Sunan collections, Abū Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“Whoever has two wives and inclines towards one rather than the other will come on the Day of Resurrection with one side of his body leaning.”

He must therefore divide his time equally between them. If he spends one, two, or three nights with one, he must spend the same number with the other, without favouring either in the allocation of time. However, if he loves one more and has intercourse with her more often, there is no blame upon him for that. Concerning this, Allah Most High revealed:

“You will never be able to be equal between wives, even if you should strive to do so.”

That is, in love and sexual intercourse. In the four Sunan collections, ‘Ā’ishah said:

“The Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—would divide his time equitably and say, ‘This is my division concerning what I control, so do not blame me concerning what You control and I do not.’”

This refers to the heart.