How Long Should a Man Stay with a Virgin or Previously Married Wife After Marriage?

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that if a man marries a virgin while his wife is present, he should stay with her for seven days, and if he marries a previously married woman, he should stay with her for three days. Abu Qilabah says that if you wish, you may consider this as being from the Prophet ﷺ or as a Sunnah. Hazrat Khalid says that I related this to Ibn Sirin, and he said that you have added four days for the virgin and one day for the previously married woman.

17812 - Khalid said: So I narrated it to Ibn Sirin, and he said: You have added this (four) and this night.

Hazrat Abu Qilabah narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said: For a virgin, there are seven days, and for a previously married woman, there are three days.

It is narrated similarly through another chain of transmission.

It is narrated from Hazrat Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) married her, he stayed with her for three days. Then he said to her: "There is no obligation on you from your family. If you wish, I will stay with you for seven days, and if I stay with you for seven days, I will also stay with my other wives for seven days each."

Hazrat Hakam narrates that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married Hazrat Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), he stayed with her for three days, and then said to her: "If you wish, I will stay with you for seven days, but if I stay for seven days, I will also stay with the other wives for seven days each." Hazrat Hakam was asked who told him this hadith, and he replied that this hadith is well-known among the people of Hijaz.

Ibrahim and Hazrat Sha'bi state that when a man marries a virgin while his wife is present, he should stay with her for seven days. And if he marries a previously married woman, he should stay with her for three days.

It is similarly narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him).

Hasan says that a man will stay with a virgin for three days and with a previously married woman for two nights.

Hasan says that one should stay with a virgin for three days and then divide (the nights), and after marrying a previously married woman, stay with her for two nights and then divide (the nights).

Ibrahim says that for a virgin there are three nights and for a previously married woman there are two nights.

Hazrat Ikrimah says that for a virgin there are seven nights and for a non-virgin there are three nights.

Hazrat Hakam and Hazrat Hammad state that a virgin and a previously married woman are equal in division.

Hasan, Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib and Hazrat Khallas state that when one marries a virgin while already having a wife, he should stay with her for three days, and if he marries a previously married woman, he should stay with her for two nights. Then he should divide (his time).

Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Sunnah is to stay with a virgin for seven days and with a previously married woman for three days. Hasan was of the opinion of dividing it as seven and two nights.

17826 - Humayd said: And al-Hasan said: (seven) (1) and two nights.