Question Summary:
Clarification on a Hadīth regarding marriage

Question Detail:

 Assalaam walaikum
 
I would like to know if you can answer the below for me.
 
My estranged “husband” told me this morning, our Nabi saw said to bring financial ease to a marriage the husband must marry a wealthy woman. And this means additional to what he already has.

 
He also told me in the past “that there came a man to the nabi saw that said he cannot provide for his family and the Nabi saw said to him he must marry another woman …still he was battling now even more and he went to the Nabi saw again and the same response he got marry another woman”
Until he got a wealthy woman who had a sewing business and she involved the other women in the business and this is how they supported themselves and him.
 
This does not sound right, at all. Therefore I am referring it to you in hope I will get an answer to this concering questions of mine.
 
I know of another story that was narrated, “The man came to the masjid and used to sit in zikr and make his salaah the whole day. Then Nabi Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam asked him about his life, he said he has no job and cannot provide for his family. Then the Nabi Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam gave him an axe and said go out and chop wood and sell it then feed your family.”
 
How very different are these two stories.
 
May Allah make it easy on us and grant us understanding.   

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Sharīah has permitted man to have four wives at once as this is clearly mentioned in the Qurān.  However, this is only permitted on condition that one is able to maintain equality between the wives.  There are severe warnings in Hadīth for one who does not maintain equality between his wives.  Consider the following Hadīth:
 
من كانت له امرأتان يميل لإحداهما على الأخرى، جاء يوم القيامة وأحد شقيه ساقط (مسند أحمد، ج 14، ص 237، مؤسسة الرسالة)
One who has two wives and does not treat them equally will appear on the Day of Judgment with one of his sides fallen off.
(Musnad Ahmad)
 
Your husband has used incorrect justifications in order to present his case.  According to Islāmic Law, it is the sole duty of the husband to provide for his family. The wife is not responsible to support the family financially.  It is inconceivable that a man would marry a woman in order to eat off her wealth and occupation.  The following Ahādīth may be considered:
 
أَلَا وَحَقُّهُنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُحْسِنُوا إِلَيْهِنَّ فِي كِسْوَتِهِنَّ وَطَعَامِهِنَّ (سنن الترمذي، ج 3، ص 21، الرسالة العالمية)
(Nabī Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said addressing the men) Behold!  Among the rights of the   women folk over you is that you provide them clothing and food with goodness.
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī)
 
أن تطعمها إذا طعمت، وتكسوها إذا اكتسيت، أو اكتسبت (سنن أبى داؤد، ج 3، ص 59، دار اليسر)
(Among the rights of your wife upon you is that) You feed her when you eat and you dress her when you clothe yourself.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd)  
 
وأطعمها إذا طعمت، واكسها إذا اكتسيت  (سنن أبى دا}د، ج 3، ص 60، دار اليسر)
And feed her when you eat and dress her when you dress yourself.
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd)
 And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mawlana Abdul Azīm bin Abdur Rahman,
Student Darul Iftaa
U.S.A.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.