Reality of Marrying a Barren Woman and Its Shar'i Explanation
Hazrat Ma'qil ibn Yasar رضي الله عنه narrates that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that he had found a woman who was beautiful and from a good family, but she was barren, meaning she could not bear children. He asked whether he should marry her. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited him. When the man asked the same question a second and third time, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Marry the loving and fertile woman, for I will boast of your great numbers before the other nations on the Day of Resurrection."
(Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith 3229)
Some people interpret this Hadith as a prohibition against marrying a barren woman. However, the Prophet ﷺ did not issue any ruling declaring such a marriage as ḥarām (forbidden) or sinful. If it were prohibited in Shari’ah, it would have been explicitly included within the bounds of prohibition.
No reliable scholar, Dar al-Ifta, or jurist has ever declared that marrying a barren woman is impermissible or ḥarām. The context of this Hadith indicates that, at that time, the Muslim population was small, and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged marrying a woman who could bear many children to increase the size of the Ummah.
Even today, in many parts of the world—especially in European countries—birth rates are declining, leading to a shortage of youth and a growing elderly population. As a result, governments offer various incentives and rewards to encourage childbirth. However, this does not imply that a barren woman loses her social status or deserves any less respect.
Similarly, this Hadith was merely a recommendation, not a negative judgment against barren women. The Prophet ﷺ used to offer advice tailored to individuals’ specific circumstances, and there are several examples of this throughout various Hadiths.
A famous incident illustrates that a female companion did not love her husband, while he loved her deeply. When she sought divorce, her husband was devastated, and the people of Madinah sympathized with him. The matter reached the Prophet ﷺ, and he advised the woman not to seek divorce. When she asked whether it was a command or advice, the Prophet ﷺ clarified that it was merely advice, not an obligation. She then asked for permission to proceed with the divorce, which the Prophet ﷺ granted.
In another incident, a companion married a previously married woman. The Prophet ﷺ asked him why he had not married a virgin, who would have played with him and vice versa. The companion explained that he had young siblings and no living mother, so he chose an experienced woman who could manage the household. The Prophet ﷺ accepted his explanation without objection.
The advice given by the Prophet ﷺ to not marry a barren woman falls under such context-specific recommendations. If it were a permanent ruling in Shari’ah, a clear and explicit prohibition would have been issued. However, the vast corpus of Hadith contains no such statement.
The advice of the Prophet ﷺ was based on specific circumstances, and the Hadith regarding marrying a barren woman should be understood in that light. To consider this recommendation as a binding command or to deem marriage to a barren woman as impermissible is incorrect.
This Hadith was a time-bound, contextual suggestion, not a universal Shar'i injunction.
✦ Background of the Hadith
Hazrat Ma'qil ibn Yasar رضي الله عنه narrates that a man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that he had found a woman who was beautiful and from a good family, but she was barren, meaning she could not bear children. He asked whether he should marry her. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited him. When the man asked the same question a second and third time, the Prophet ﷺ said:
"Marry the loving and fertile woman, for I will boast of your great numbers before the other nations on the Day of Resurrection."
(Sunan an-Nasa’i, Hadith 3229)
✦ Explanation of the Hadith: Shar'i Ruling on Marrying a Barren Woman
Some people interpret this Hadith as a prohibition against marrying a barren woman. However, the Prophet ﷺ did not issue any ruling declaring such a marriage as ḥarām (forbidden) or sinful. If it were prohibited in Shari’ah, it would have been explicitly included within the bounds of prohibition.
No reliable scholar, Dar al-Ifta, or jurist has ever declared that marrying a barren woman is impermissible or ḥarām. The context of this Hadith indicates that, at that time, the Muslim population was small, and the Prophet ﷺ encouraged marrying a woman who could bear many children to increase the size of the Ummah.
✦ Contemporary Perspective: Birth Rate and Social Conditions
Even today, in many parts of the world—especially in European countries—birth rates are declining, leading to a shortage of youth and a growing elderly population. As a result, governments offer various incentives and rewards to encourage childbirth. However, this does not imply that a barren woman loses her social status or deserves any less respect.
Similarly, this Hadith was merely a recommendation, not a negative judgment against barren women. The Prophet ﷺ used to offer advice tailored to individuals’ specific circumstances, and there are several examples of this throughout various Hadiths.
✦ Prophet’s ﷺ Guidance and Individual Circumstances
A famous incident illustrates that a female companion did not love her husband, while he loved her deeply. When she sought divorce, her husband was devastated, and the people of Madinah sympathized with him. The matter reached the Prophet ﷺ, and he advised the woman not to seek divorce. When she asked whether it was a command or advice, the Prophet ﷺ clarified that it was merely advice, not an obligation. She then asked for permission to proceed with the divorce, which the Prophet ﷺ granted.
In another incident, a companion married a previously married woman. The Prophet ﷺ asked him why he had not married a virgin, who would have played with him and vice versa. The companion explained that he had young siblings and no living mother, so he chose an experienced woman who could manage the household. The Prophet ﷺ accepted his explanation without objection.
✦ Advice Regarding Marriage to a Barren Woman – Not a Ruling
The advice given by the Prophet ﷺ to not marry a barren woman falls under such context-specific recommendations. If it were a permanent ruling in Shari’ah, a clear and explicit prohibition would have been issued. However, the vast corpus of Hadith contains no such statement.
Conclusion
The advice of the Prophet ﷺ was based on specific circumstances, and the Hadith regarding marrying a barren woman should be understood in that light. To consider this recommendation as a binding command or to deem marriage to a barren woman as impermissible is incorrect.
This Hadith was a time-bound, contextual suggestion, not a universal Shar'i injunction.
