from the book “Ahkam wa Masail – In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah” by Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani.
If a person is martyred in the path of Allah, can we call him a martyr (shahīd)? Likewise, what is the ruling regarding marrying his widow? Are there historical examples of widows of such martyrs being remarried in Islamic history?
Marching forth in the path of Allah with one’s life and wealth is an act of immense virtue. The person who, with sincerity and steadfastness of heart, gives his life for the sake of elevating the Word of Allah is, in the sight of Allah, a shahīd (martyr). However, since we do not have knowledge of people’s inner intentions, we judge them based on their apparent actions.
Some people fight for pride, others for worldly status and glory, while some fight solely for the pleasure of Allah. The one who fights for the pleasure of Allah is considered fī sabīlillāh, and if he dies in the course of such fighting, we may refer to him as a shahīd, by saying “in shā’ Allāh”, or we may simply call him maqtūl (killed). This is based on what Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (before Hadīth 2898).
If the widows of such martyrs wish to remarry, then after completing their ‘iddah (waiting period), they have every right to do so. Marrying again upon finding a suitable match is not objectionable. In fact, Islamic history is replete with such examples.
Imām Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله mentioned in his famous book al-Iṣābah fī Tamyīz al-Ṣaḥābah several female Companions who married again after being widowed.
Thus, ʿĀtikah رضي الله عنها was successively married to several martyrs.
These events clearly demonstrate that Islamic history is filled with luminous and exemplary cases of remarriage of widows of martyrs.
Unfortunately, in today’s society, marrying divorced or widowed women is often viewed with disdain, whereas this is a baseless and harmful mindset. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself married widows, thus guiding his Ummah through action. Except for ʿĀ’ishah Ṣiddīqah رضي الله عنها, all the noble wives of the Prophet ﷺ were previously married.
In today’s era, it is a commendable and virtuous act to marry the widows of young Muslim men who have sacrificed their lives in the battlefield of jihād. Any brother who finds a proposal in such a situation should not view it negatively, but rather accept it with an open heart.
Indeed, Allah is the One who bestows blessings and controls all affairs.
✔ It is permissible to refer to someone who is apparently killed in Allah’s path as a shahīd, by saying “in shā’ Allāh”.
✔ His widow may remarry after completing her ‘iddah.
✔ There are numerous precedents in the lives of the Companions of such remarriages.
✔ Islamic teachings and prophetic example completely support such marriages.
✔ Society should remove the stigma associated with marrying widows or divorced women.
❖ Question:
If a person is martyred in the path of Allah, can we call him a martyr (shahīd)? Likewise, what is the ruling regarding marrying his widow? Are there historical examples of widows of such martyrs being remarried in Islamic history?
❖ Answer:
Marching forth in the path of Allah with one’s life and wealth is an act of immense virtue. The person who, with sincerity and steadfastness of heart, gives his life for the sake of elevating the Word of Allah is, in the sight of Allah, a shahīd (martyr). However, since we do not have knowledge of people’s inner intentions, we judge them based on their apparent actions.
Some people fight for pride, others for worldly status and glory, while some fight solely for the pleasure of Allah. The one who fights for the pleasure of Allah is considered fī sabīlillāh, and if he dies in the course of such fighting, we may refer to him as a shahīd, by saying “in shā’ Allāh”, or we may simply call him maqtūl (killed). This is based on what Imām al-Bukhārī رحمه الله mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī (before Hadīth 2898).
❖ Ruling on Marriage of Widows of Martyrs:
If the widows of such martyrs wish to remarry, then after completing their ‘iddah (waiting period), they have every right to do so. Marrying again upon finding a suitable match is not objectionable. In fact, Islamic history is replete with such examples.
Imām Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله mentioned in his famous book al-Iṣābah fī Tamyīz al-Ṣaḥābah several female Companions who married again after being widowed.
❖ Notable Historical Examples:
① ʿĀtikah bint Zayd رضي الله عنها
- First married to ʿAbdullāh ibn Abī Bakr رضي الله عنهما, who loved her dearly.
- She was exceptionally beautiful. Under instruction from his father, Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه, ʿAbdullāh divorced her.
- Later, ʿAbdullāh regretted the separation and recited poetry in her longing. When Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه heard this, he permitted his son to take her back.
- Later, ʿAbdullāh was fatally wounded by an arrow in Ṭā’if and died in Madinah.
- After his death, she married ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه, who was martyred in turn.
- Then she married Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām رضي الله عنه, who also became a martyr.
Thus, ʿĀtikah رضي الله عنها was successively married to several martyrs.
② Asmā’ bint ʿUmays رضي الله عنها
- First married to Jaʿfar al-Ṭayyār رضي الله عنه, who was martyred.
- Then she married Abū Bakr al-Ṣiddīq رضي الله عنه.
- After Abū Bakr's death, she married ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib رضي الله عنه.
③ Umm Kulthūm bint ʿUqbah رضي الله عنها
- A noble female emigrant (muhājirah).
- First married Zayd ibn Ḥārithah رضي الله عنه, who was martyred at the Battle of Mu’tah.
- Then she married Zubayr ibn al-ʿAwwām رضي الله عنه, but their marriage ended in divorce.
- She later married ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf رضي الله عنه.
- After his death, she married ʿAmr ibn al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنه.
These events clearly demonstrate that Islamic history is filled with luminous and exemplary cases of remarriage of widows of martyrs.
❖ Addressing Cultural Misconceptions:
Unfortunately, in today’s society, marrying divorced or widowed women is often viewed with disdain, whereas this is a baseless and harmful mindset. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself married widows, thus guiding his Ummah through action. Except for ʿĀ’ishah Ṣiddīqah رضي الله عنها, all the noble wives of the Prophet ﷺ were previously married.
❖ Contemporary Relevance:
In today’s era, it is a commendable and virtuous act to marry the widows of young Muslim men who have sacrificed their lives in the battlefield of jihād. Any brother who finds a proposal in such a situation should not view it negatively, but rather accept it with an open heart.
Indeed, Allah is the One who bestows blessings and controls all affairs.
Conclusion:
✔ It is permissible to refer to someone who is apparently killed in Allah’s path as a shahīd, by saying “in shā’ Allāh”.
✔ His widow may remarry after completing her ‘iddah.
✔ There are numerous precedents in the lives of the Companions of such remarriages.
✔ Islamic teachings and prophetic example completely support such marriages.
✔ Society should remove the stigma associated with marrying widows or divorced women.
