Marrying a second time because the first wife cannot have a child

Q. Can a man marry a second time because his first wife cannot have a child?

A. It is permissible for a person who has the physical and material means to marry a second time. The sterility of a woman is one of the reasons that can require a second Nikah, but of course it is not the only reason or it is not a condition that makes a second Nikah permissible. It should therefore be emphasized that a second Nikah is indeed permissible even if the first wife is not sterile. However, equality between wives must be practiced from a material point of view. A husband guilty of inequality between wives will present himself before Allah Ta'ala with one of his shoulders leaning to one side.

[English version of "Se marier une deuxième fois parce que la première femme ne peut avoir d'enfant" – Al Haadi – Vol. 3 No. 1]