Wives were exchanged and it became known after three children were born: is the lineage of these children established?

Question

Question: Bakr was married to Shamima Khatun, (who lived) at a distance of five kos (kos: an Indian measure of distance). But the girl’s family sent off (at the sending of the bride to the husband’s home) another girl named Shamima to Bakr. Bakr came to know of this only when three children had been born. What should Bakr do now? And Bakr’s Shamima was sent to Zayd, and she had two children. Should the two now be exchanged or not? And will the children be called illegitimate or not?

Answer

Let Zayd and Bakr each pronounce talaq upon his original wife by nikah, Shamima, and then each marry the Shamima who was delivered to him by mistake and by whom each has had children. Still, it is most astonishing that the marriage took place only five kos away, one Shamima was exchanged for the other, and it came to light only when (the woman)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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