Can I Marry Someone Who Doesn’t Wear the Hijab as a Second Wife?

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas

Question: Assalam aleykum

Can a man marry a non-hijabi woman as a second wife because his first wife refuses to take off her hijab? Is it a valid reason to fulfill a sunnah? Secondly, if he has already married her, will he be a sinner if he divorces his second wife on his fathers orders?

Answer: assalamu alaykum

I can say in categorical terms that this is absolutely not a valid reason. Your wife is fulfilling her religious obligations by wearing the hijab and is upholding this duty when she does not submit to any external pressure to take it off. In fact, her refusing to do so is a sign of her faith and we ask God to continue strengthening her and make you someone who supports her in her religious practice.

As I am unaware of the details of your situation, I would strongly and emphatically advise you not to seek another spouse given the reason you have mentioned. It seems that you and your wife have some issues to sort out. You need to communicate with each other openly, seek advice from a reliable local scholar and counsellor, and then decide your future.

Please see: Is Polygamy really Allowed?

[Ustadh] Salman Younas

Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Salman Younas graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Political Science and Religious Studies. After studying the Islamic sciences online and with local scholars in New York, Ustadh Salman moved to Amman. There he studies Islamic law, legal methodology, belief, hadith methodology, logic, Arabic, and tafsir.