Q 5: If a man marries a maiden, he stays with her for a week. If he marries a matron, the said period will be for three days; in either case he does not go out for the congregational Salah; does this have any basis in the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet)?

A: If a man marries a maiden (and he already has other wives), he should stay with her for a week and then divide his time equally between other co-wives. If the new bride is (Part No. 19; Page No. 209) a matron, he stays with her for three days. If she wants the husband to stay with her for a week, he may fulfill her wish and then make up for the four days difference when dividing his time between his other wives. This opinion is based on the Hadith reported by Abu Qilabah on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) who said, "It is the Sunnah that if someone marries a maiden and he already has another wife, then he should stay for seven days with her (the maiden) and then arrange his staying with both of them by turns. If the second wife happens to be a matron, he should stay with her for three days, and then divide days among them by turns." Abu Qulabah said, "I can say that Anas traced the Hadith to the Prophet (peace be upon him)." (Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim and the wording is for Al-Bukhari). It is also related on the authority of Um Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that she said, "When the Prophet (peace be upon him) married her, he stayed with her for three days and said, 'There is no lack of estimation for you on the part of your husband. Thus, if you want me to stay for a week with you, I will and will do the same with my other wives.'" (Related by Muslim). Anyone who marries either a maiden or a matron should not make this a pretext to abandon the congregational Salah in the Masjid (mosque); there is no evidence supporting that, even in the two Hadith mentioned above. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.