All praise is due to Allaah, and peace and blessings be upon his messenger and those loyal to him. Is there strong evidence without a difference of opinion about the permissibility of a a man hiding his marriage to a second from his first wife? Isn't this contrary to the condition of publicizing the marriage? Does this fall under the banner of justice to the wife and children? Isn't this considered cheating and is this from the traits of manliness and chivalry? The problems that arise from this act are not hidden, and if there is evidence to it being permissible, is this permissibility unconditional?

In the name of Allaah, the Benevolent, the Merciful. All praise is due to Allaah, and may peace and blessings be upon the messenger of Allaah, his family, companions, and all those loyal to him. We genuinely sympathize with these feelings that were relayed in your questions, and we do affirm that informing the first wife of the marriage to a second is considered part of the excellence with one's family that Allaah indebts the man to worship Him by. Nonetheless though, it is not from the conditions for correctness/legitimacy of the marriage contract. This is because whoever's permission isn't a must, their knowledge also isn't a must (in a marriage contract). As for publicizing the marriage, this matter is relative; the witnesses have known, and those that were informed of his family and friends have known. As for this complete and total publicizing that many people think is a condition for the marriage contract, in actuality it is not so. Once again, we reiterate that informing the first wife is part of the excellence of marital relations and not a matter of being conditional to the correctness of the marriage. And Allaah, the Most High, knows best.