Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Volume 1, Page 838
Does a woman divorced by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ retain the status of “Umm al-Muʾminīn” (Mother of the Believers)?
If not, is it permissible for her to marry someone else after the divorce?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
This matter consists of two parts:
The noble title "Umm al-Muʾminīn" (Mother of the Believers) is conditional upon the continuation of marital bond with the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ As long as a woman remains married to the Prophet ﷺ, she holds this elevated status.
◈ Once the marriage is terminated through divorce, that bond ceases, and so does the title.
Supporting example:
It is said that Sayyidah Sawdah bint Zamʿah رضي الله عنها, fearing divorce, donated her night to ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها, preferring to retain her honored position as Umm al-Muʾminīn.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 3, p. 785 – Bāb al-Marʾah Tahab Yawmahā li-Zawjihā)
Hence:
A woman divorced by the Prophet ﷺ would no longer be considered one of the Mothers of the Believers.
There are two scholarly views on this matter:
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ﴾
“They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them.”
(Surah al-Baqarah)
This verse highlights the natural and lawful nature of the marriage bond, regardless of whether the woman is previously married or divorced.
To prohibit such a woman from remarrying would be an unjust deprivation of a Sharʿī right.
Being part of the household of the Prophet ﷺ is the greatest worldly honor a woman could have.
If a woman is divorced from that sacred bond, she is no longer within that privilege.
To forbid her from remarriage would amount to extending grief and hardship upon her for the remainder of her life — which is against the principle of the Prophet ﷺ:
"لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ"
“There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm.”
(Reported in Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl)
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا﴾
Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:28)
Translation:
"O Prophet, say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its adornments, then come, I will provide for you and release you with a gracious release."
In his commentary on the words "سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا" (“a gracious release”), he states:
"There is scholarly disagreement about whether they would be allowed to remarry if the Prophet ﷺ had divorced them. The stronger opinion is that they would have been permitted to marry, so that the meaning of 'gracious release' could be fulfilled."
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 3, p. 481 – Sūrah al-Aḥzāb)
Based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly analysis:
① If a wife of the Prophet ﷺ were to be divorced, she would no longer retain the title of Umm al-Muʾminīn.
② Such a woman would be permitted to remarry, as supported by sound Sharʿī evidence.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question:
Does a woman divorced by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ retain the status of “Umm al-Muʾminīn” (Mother of the Believers)?
If not, is it permissible for her to marry someone else after the divorce?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd:
This matter consists of two parts:
① Does a Divorced Wife of the Prophet ﷺ Remain an "Umm al-Muʾminīn"?
The noble title "Umm al-Muʾminīn" (Mother of the Believers) is conditional upon the continuation of marital bond with the Prophet ﷺ.
◈ As long as a woman remains married to the Prophet ﷺ, she holds this elevated status.
◈ Once the marriage is terminated through divorce, that bond ceases, and so does the title.
Supporting example:
It is said that Sayyidah Sawdah bint Zamʿah رضي الله عنها, fearing divorce, donated her night to ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها, preferring to retain her honored position as Umm al-Muʾminīn.
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Vol. 3, p. 785 – Bāb al-Marʾah Tahab Yawmahā li-Zawjihā)
Hence:
A woman divorced by the Prophet ﷺ would no longer be considered one of the Mothers of the Believers.② Can a Divorced Wife of the Prophet ﷺ Marry Someone Else?
There are two scholarly views on this matter:
✦ View 1: She cannot remarry
✦ View 2: She can remarry
Evidences and Arguments in Support of the Second View (Permissibility of Remarriage):
(1) Marriage is a Legitimate and Natural Need
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿هُنَّ لِبَاسٌ لَّكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لِبَاسٌ لَّهُنَّ﴾
“They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them.”
(Surah al-Baqarah)
This verse highlights the natural and lawful nature of the marriage bond, regardless of whether the woman is previously married or divorced.
To prohibit such a woman from remarrying would be an unjust deprivation of a Sharʿī right.
(2) The Human and Emotional Consideration
Being part of the household of the Prophet ﷺ is the greatest worldly honor a woman could have.
If a woman is divorced from that sacred bond, she is no longer within that privilege.
To forbid her from remarriage would amount to extending grief and hardship upon her for the remainder of her life — which is against the principle of the Prophet ﷺ:
"لَا ضَرَرَ وَلَا ضِرَارَ"
“There should be neither harm nor reciprocating harm.”
(Reported in Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl)
(3)
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُل لِّأَزْوَاجِكَ إِن كُنتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ أُمَتِّعْكُنَّ وَأُسَرِّحْكُنَّ سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا﴾
Surah al-Aḥzāb (33:28)
Translation:
"O Prophet, say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its adornments, then come, I will provide for you and release you with a gracious release."
✿ Tafsīr of Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله:
In his commentary on the words "سَرَاحًا جَمِيلًا" (“a gracious release”), he states:
"There is scholarly disagreement about whether they would be allowed to remarry if the Prophet ﷺ had divorced them. The stronger opinion is that they would have been permitted to marry, so that the meaning of 'gracious release' could be fulfilled."
(Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, Vol. 3, p. 481 – Sūrah al-Aḥzāb)
Final Conclusion:
Based on the Qur’an, Sunnah, and scholarly analysis:
① If a wife of the Prophet ﷺ were to be divorced, she would no longer retain the title of Umm al-Muʾminīn.
② Such a woman would be permitted to remarry, as supported by sound Sharʿī evidence.
هٰذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
