⚖️ Polygyny: rulings & justice · #6
The husband is travelling. Which wife should he take?
If a husband wants to take only one wife on a journey, the way is to draw lots between the wives.
Aishah r.a. narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ wanted to travel, he drew lots between his wives, and whoever's lot came out, he took her with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2593). According to the Shafi'i school, if a wife is taken by drawing lots, the travel period need not be made up to the wives who stayed behind. Lots can be replaced by the agreement of all the wives, for example if they are content for a particular wife to go because of a need. This closes the door to any sense of favouritism. See Fiqh of polygyny.
Aishah r.a. narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ wanted to travel, he drew lots between his wives, and whoever's lot came out, he took her with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2593). According to the Shafi'i school, if a wife is taken by drawing lots, the travel period need not be made up to the wives who stayed behind. Lots can be replaced by the agreement of all the wives, for example if they are content for a particular wife to go because of a need. This closes the door to any sense of favouritism. See Fiqh of polygyny.
Differences between the schools. Shafi'i and Hanbali require drawing lots (or agreement); Hanafi and some Maliki scholars regard lots as recommended to preserve feelings, not obligatory.
Sources
Sahih al-Bukhari 2593