The obligation to treat co-wives fairly in giving gifts

 

I have two wives, and I want to buy some gold for one of them as a gift. Is it permissible for me to do that, or would this be unfair treatment of co-wives? Please note that I do not fall short in giving the other wife her rights.

Praise be to Allaah.
   

 

Whoever has two or more wives has to treat them fairly. It is
not permissible for him to single out one of his wives with regard to
spending, accommodation or spending the night, to the exclusion of the
others. There is a stern warning issued to the one who has two wives and
does not treat them fairly. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever has two wives and inclines more towards
one of them than the other, will come on the Day of Resurrection with half
of his body falling.”  According to another version: “Dragging half of his
body which will be falling or leaning.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad in
al-Musnad, 2/295, 347, 471. A similar hadeeth was also narrated by
al-Nasaa’i and Ibn Maajah in their Sunans. 

And it was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Whoever has two wives and inclines more towards one of them, will
come on the Day of Resurrection with half of his body leaning.” Narrated by
Abu Dawood in his Sunan, 2/601. Al-Tirmidhi narrated something
similar in al-Jaami’. 

This evidence indicates that it is obligatory to treat
co-wives fairly and equally, and that it is haraam for the husband to
incline more to one of them in a way that will hurt the other. This does not
include the inclination of the heart, for a person has no control over the
inclination of the heart. Hence the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to divide his time equally among his
wives, and he said: “O Allaah, this is my division of that which I can
control, so do not take me to task for that over which You have control and
I have no control” [meaning love in the heart]. 

Based on this, it is not
permissible for this husband to single out one of his wives with regard to
something over which he has control. If he gives a house etc to one of his
wives, he must treat all his wives equally in that regard, and give a
similar gift or something of equal value to all of them, unless the second
wife allows that.