Customary practices

Q: Is it permissible for me to take another wife?

My wife fell pregnant after 16 years with twins and thereafter a 3rd child. Since then she has been living at her parent's home which is already 2 years now. I understand that in the initial stages it was very difficult but now they have grown up so it is a little easier. I am very depressed at home as I really miss my wife and children around me. I live with my parents, but we have totally seperate quarters.

My wife always made excuses that she cant manage on her own. I am prepared to get a domestic worker to assist her with house chores and my parents are also prepared to help.

My parents dont see their long awaited grandchildren for many many months. I always travel on the weekends to visit my children but I really miss them when I am back home. Its really lonely without a wife and children for so long and heartbreaking to leave them. I also became a father after 16 years but have never seen the milestones of my children and how they grew up. Sometimes I actually cry myself off to sleep thinking about my children. My mother always cries and pines for her grandchildren which she was so excited for. I also admire other women who gave birth and returned home and can make an effort to manage. I always wonder how mums with twins managed on their own? My wife did come home for a week when the children were smaller but claimed the house is too small for 3 kids and she can't manage.

Will it be permissible for me to make a second nikah without informing my wife as I dont know how long more she intends staying at her parents house as I am very lonely and depressed.

Q: I'm a 22 year old female and I have a friend who believes in hisaab. He wants to get married but he went to the imam to ask him whether he is compatible with the girl. So the imam asked for her name and date of birth to determine compatibility and whether she would be a good wife; how she will be with him and his family. He also predicted that my friend would most likely remain unmarried because he won't find anyone compatible to him. And my friend doesn't know how he used names and date of birth to determine compatibility because the imam went into a different room.

I told my friend that this is haraam in our religion because only Allah knows our future and this is no different than going to a fortune teller or believing in astrology and horoscopes and it's clearly mentioned in Islam that this is haraam because it's associating with Allah, but he doesn't believe me. I'm very worried for him and I would like to know from a knowledgeable person if this is allowed in Islam. 

Q: There's a practice here in my country that after the bride is engaged, she can't see/appear in front of anyone (even females) from the groom's family. Is that practice from Islam?

Q: I got my catch hold ceremony in October 2015 but still we didn't do nikah because my in-laws are having some financial problems. What should I do in order to marry quickly?

Q: I want to know if it's halal to get marry without anybody knowing, not even my parents. 

Q: Me and this guy that I met had been chatting for almost a year. He phoned my parents to ask my hand in marriage and they said no because he has been married twice before. So we got married without them knowing. I had 2 witnesses present and a Moulana did our nikah. It has been 3 weeks since we got married and I am still staying by my parents house. Now I want to run away so I can be with my husband but not sure if I should first tell my parents that I am married or just run away and deal with the stress at a later stage or should I ask for a divorce?

Q: Just wanted to ask the ruling and some advice regarding an Islamic wedding. My weddings coming up soon and Ive been told that my spouse is not allowed to sit to eat with me on the wedding day. The wedding will be fully segregated but is the groom allowed to come into the womens hall to sit next to the bride to eat? They will be no massive entrance that all the women will look at the groom entering. Also the table will be in the corner of the hall and only immediate family would be sat around. So is this allowed? As Ive been told I am not allowed to see my spouse at all until the end of the wedding but isnt a wedding day meant to be spent with the one you are marrying? The nikah will be done weeks before so Im guessing its ok in Islam to sit next to your spouse on the actual day.

I have learnt that the best nikah or wedding is the one with the least expenses. Alhamdullilah we have spent on a budget but its just these few problems that have appeared. Also Ive been told that cutting a cake with your spouse is against islam too. Is this true? Maybe its not a sunnah but is it forbidden in islam? The cake would be cut towards the end where there is only close family left. So im confused as to why it is not allowed.

I have also been given many negative thoughts about married life. For example if I was to be upset about something my in laws would hate me for it and my marriage wouldn't work out. As long as I know marriage is meant to be a happy step in life. I know some parts would be upsetting like leaving home but why am I getting negative thoughts about marriage. I have already thought the worse about everything and it has got the better of me. Im just confused and feel sad about getting married now. As all these thoughts have filled my head up and i can no longer see any positive in my life or the future. I just need some advice on this matter.

Q: I want to marry a girl of my choice.. My mother and father both agreed upon this.. The girl's parents also agreed upon this.. But their will be a gap of a year as they agreed upon. But due to Islamic reasons and due to sins, we want to perform a secret nikaah to stop sins and to have the mercy of Allah SWT.. When the time comes we will perform nikaah before everyone. Pls guide me..

Q: Can the groom go in the hall full of ladies after his nikah where no other males were allowed? Can he sit on the stage with his bride in front of all the ladies?

Q: Is a girl allowed to go to her fiancé’s house to visit the family, alongside her parents and family without the presence of the boy in the house. I think this is a cultural thing. Is there any thing mentioned regarding this in the shariah?