A number of women whose husbands have taken other wives say that after the second marriage, their husbands do not pay alimony or provide other legal rights. However, religious scholars and legal experts say that if a woman’s rights are not respected, she can file a complaint with judicial institutions. These women add that they face economic pressure and are not sufficiently aware of their legal rights.
Yasamin, a 28-year-old woman from Balkh, says that her husband had remarried several years ago and no longer maintained justice between his wives. She adds that her husband had stopped providing financial support, leaving her and her children struggling with hunger. She says,
“Before, he would at least give a small amount for our household expenses. Now, months go by and he brings nothing. Sometimes I even have to sell household items just to survive. When I ask him why he doesn’t give us money, he says he has none because he is unemployed. At night, I lie awake worrying about what I will cook the next day and how I will fill my children’s stomachs. I keep asking myself, if he had no money, why did he take a second wife?”
Zia Jan, a 30-year-old mother of four children, shares a similar experience. She says that after her husband’s second marriage, he had practically forgotten about her—the first wife—and their children. She adds that in addition to emotional neglect, he had also stopped providing financial support.
“He neither covers our expenses nor pays alimony. I live alone with my four children and have to borrow money just to buy food. When I turn to my brothers and ask what I should do, they tell me, ‘You are no longer our responsibility.’ But what can I do? I am a woman on my own,” she says.
Zarghona also speaks about her husband’s indifference and injustice. She says that after taking a second wife, he had completely ignored her and their children and had, in effect, cast them aside. She says,
“When he remarried, he stopped caring about me. He doesn’t even know whether we have food to eat or clothes to wear. He rented a house far from our area for his second wife. I may not fully understand my legal rights, but I do know that he is supposed to provide for me and our children. When he was preparing for the wedding, I asked him to give me my dowry (Mahr). He replied, ‘What dowry? I only have enough money to cover the wedding expenses.’”
However, religious scholars and legal experts emphasize that justice between wives is a fundamental condition of polygamous marriage. They state that a man is obligated to provide full financial support and cover the expenses of his wives and children. If he is unable to fulfill these responsibilities, they say, it is better for him not to take another wife.
Ziba Zuhal, a legal expert, explains that if alimony is not paid and equal rights are not ensured, a woman can file a complaint in court and claim her rights.
“From the perspective of Islamic Sharia, a man may have up to four wives, but only if he observes complete justice. Justice means providing equal financial support—including expenses, clothing, food, and housing—to each wife without discrimination. If a man fails to pay alimony or treats his wife unjustly, she can seek her rights through the court and may even request a divorce. In such cases, her right to her dowry (Mahr) remains fully protected.”
Similarly, Amanullah Ahmadi states that a man with more than one wife must establish justice among them and provide equal financial support.
“A man who favors one wife while neglecting another will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment with one side of his body paralyzed. One of the conditions for taking a second wife is that he must be certain he can uphold justice. However, matters of the heart are different, because a man cannot love two women in exactly the same way.”
According to Islamic Sharia and the Civil Law of Afghanistan, a man is both legally and religiously obligated to uphold justice and provide full financial support to his wives.
Reporter: Liza Omari
