⚖️ Polygyny: rulings & justice · #37
The wives live in different states. May the rotation be week by week?
It is allowed if all the wives agree; without consent, the Shafi'i school does not permit a rotation of more than three nights per wife.
Long distances often make daily rotation difficult, so a block arrangement such as one week for each wife is a practical solution, provided the period is the same for each. The husband must also make sure his presence is enough to fulfil his responsibilities to the children in each home. If distance causes one wife to be all but neglected, the husband must reassess his ability. See Managing the rotation and Two-household finances.
Long distances often make daily rotation difficult, so a block arrangement such as one week for each wife is a practical solution, provided the period is the same for each. The husband must also make sure his presence is enough to fulfil his responsibilities to the children in each home. If distance causes one wife to be all but neglected, the husband must reassess his ability. See Managing the rotation and Two-household finances.
Difference between schools. Some Hanbali and Maliki scholars give the husband more latitude to set the length of a round so long as it is equal; the Shafi'is limit it to three nights without consent.
Sources
Surah an-Nisa' 4:129Surah an-Nisa' 4:3