Q: I been away from my wife for three years. My wife lives in Pakistan and I am living in Canada. I have already sponsored her and her documents are submitted. I am now waiting for results from the Canadian embassy. What I want to ask is that I have been away from my wife for three years and did not have sex at all. I am man and I have needs but for last three years I haven’t with any women and Allah knows that I love my wife and I am sincere to her. In this situation can I have sex with other women for my need of sexual desire? Will this fall under zina (adultery) and does Islam allow if man is away from his wife for long period and he desires for sexual needs, that he can have sex with other women?
A: Your query refers. It is clear, and I am sure you will fully understand, that to have sexual relatioins with a woman outside nikah is zina and therefore totally haraam. There is no way this can ever become halaal.
If it will still be some time before your wife comes from Pakistan to live with you, then we advise that you get married to a Muslim woman from your locality. But remember, this has to be a proper, normal nikah, with a normal mehr, with out any time limit. Limited marriages are not valid in Islam.
Shariah teaches that if a man fears zina, then he should get married. You are allowed to take more than one wife. Doing nikah will be a means of saving yoursefl from zinaa.
Allah Ta’ala make it easy for you
Mufti Siraj Desai