⚖️ Polygyny: rulings & justice · #60
How should a husband divide his annual leave and family holidays between his households?
The principle is fairness: days of leave spent at one home count towards the rota, and a holiday with one wife should be balanced with an equal opportunity for the other, by agreement or by drawing lots.
Allah commands justice and forbids inclining to one (an-Nisa' 4:129), and the Prophet ﷺ drew lots for which wife travelled with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2593). According to the Shafi'i school, a wife taken on a journey by lot does not have to have those days made up to the others, but if she was taken without a lot, the others are entitled to make-up days. Practical suggestions: plan the year's calendar together; divide each household's school holidays fairly; if there is a holiday with one wife, plan an equivalent one for the other in the same year; and avoid posting holiday photos that cause hurt. See the question on travelling without drawing lots.
Allah commands justice and forbids inclining to one (an-Nisa' 4:129), and the Prophet ﷺ drew lots for which wife travelled with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2593). According to the Shafi'i school, a wife taken on a journey by lot does not have to have those days made up to the others, but if she was taken without a lot, the others are entitled to make-up days. Practical suggestions: plan the year's calendar together; divide each household's school holidays fairly; if there is a holiday with one wife, plan an equivalent one for the other in the same year; and avoid posting holiday photos that cause hurt. See the question on travelling without drawing lots.
Sources
Surah an-Nisa' 4:129Sahih al-Bukhari 2593Surah an-Nahl 16:90