Fatwa No : 29961
Does one have to spend the same amount on both of his wives?

Does one have to spend the same amount on both of his wives?

I need your guidance as per Shari’ah regarding an issue. The matter is regarding being fair and just to multiple wives. My inquiry is as follows:
If I purchase something for one of my wives, then I purchase the same thing or something similar for my other wife. However, if the cost is more or less than what I paid when purchasing for my first wife, will I also have to give the difference, or have if fulfilled the requirement of being just by merely giving what I purchased?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
If a man has multiple wives, he must be equal to them in the following matters: clothing, food and drink, living arrangement, and nights spent with each of them. If he has purchased something for one of his wives, then he must provide the same for his other wife if she requests it, regardless of whether he purchases it at a higher or lesser price than before. However, if one of his wives is of a family that provided her with a higher standard of living, and the other is of a lesser fortunate family, then it would be allowed for him to provide for them more or less (respectively) based on their standard of living.