Bringing children from one's first wife to spend the night with one in one's second wife's house

Q: I have made up my mind to take a second wife. I have four young children from the first marriage. I am concerned about not being able to spend enough time with the kids to participate in their tarbeeyah as I am a busy doctor and usually come home after Maghrib. Can I keep some or all of my kids with me when I am spending the evening and night with my second wife?

A: It is unethical to do this, to take them away from their mother. She has taken all the trouble to take care of their birth etc. It will be normal that there is a bond between her and her children, and she will not feel secure about the children being in the care of your second wife.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)