doing something that is otherwise lawful for him to choose, and there is nothing objectionable in that, for the husband himself has waived his right and no one is harmed. Therefore, if she stipulates that he must not take another wife and he nevertheless does so, she has the right to annul the marriage—whether he agrees or not—because he has violated the condition.

The essential point is that Allah has commanded us to honour every covenant. You must fulfil an agreement in its entirety: do not betray, do not seek excuses, do not conceal a defect, and do not engage in deception. God willing, we shall address the second verse shortly.

Allah knows best.

1584 – ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Four traits—whoever possesses all of them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever possesses one of them has a trait of hypocrisy until he abandons it: when entrusted, he betrays; when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a covenant, he breaks it; and when he disputes, he exceeds all bounds.” Agreed upon.