Can a Father Propose Marriage for His Widowed Daughter?
Source: Fatāwā Ameenpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Ameenpuri
❖ Question:
Can a father present a marriage proposal for his widowed daughter?
❖ Answer:
Yes, a father is the guardian (walī) of his daughter. He may present the marriage proposal of his virgin or previously married daughter, but only with her consent.
✿ Evidence from the Companions
When the husband of Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها passed away and she completed her ʿiddah, her father ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه said:
لقيت عثمان بن عفان، فعرضت عليه حفصة
“I met ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān رضي الله عنه, and I offered him Ḥafṣah’s رضي الله عنها hand in marriage.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4005)
Conclusion:A father is permitted to propose marriage for his widowed daughter, provided that her consent is sought and obtained.
