Excerpt taken from Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani’s book: "Ahkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah"❖ Question:
Is there any verse of the Qur’an or Hadith that explicitly encourages early marriage of widows or declares marriage to a widow as a great Sunnah? Kindly explain in light of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
❖ Answer:
The Qur’an and Sunnah contain numerous general exhortations to marry, and these do not restrict the encouragement to virgins only. In fact, while marriage to a virgin is more preferable, it is not exclusive.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence
Allah the Exalted says:
﴿وَأَنْكِحُوا الْأَيَامَىٰ مِنْكُمْ﴾
“And marry off those among you who are single…”
— Surah An-Nur (24:32)
The word “ayāmā” (الْأَيَامَى) is the plural of "ayyim" (أَيِّم).
According to linguistic and juristic interpretation, "ayyim" refers to:- Every woman without a husband — whether a virgin, widow, or divorcee.
- And every man without a wife — whether previously married or never married.
Imām Ibn Kathīr رحمه الله explains:
“Ayyāmā is the plural of ayyim, which refers to any woman without a husband, and likewise any man without a wife — whether through divorce or never having been married.”
(al-Misbāḥ al-Munīr, p. 94)
Further references: al-Nihāyah, Lisān al-ʿArab, Mujam Maqāyīs al-Lughah, Majmaʿ al-Biḥār al-Anwār.❖ Hadith Encouraging Marriage
❖ ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“O young men! Whoever among you is able to marry should do so, for it helps lower the gaze and guard the private parts. And whoever is unable, let him fast, for that will be a protection for him.”
— [Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab an-Nikāḥ: 5065; Sahih Muslim: 1400]
❖ Allah’s Help for Those Who Seek Marriage
❖ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Three types of people are entitled to Allah’s help:
① The one who marries seeking chastity,
② The slave who seeks to free himself (through a contract), and
③ The one who strives in the cause of Allah.”
— [Musnad Aḥmad: 2/137, ḥadīth 9629; al-Nasā’ī: 3122, 3220; Ibn Mājah: 2518]
Thus, it is clear that Shari’ah encourages marriage with any righteous believing woman — whether virgin or widow — without placing restriction.
❖ Preference for Virgins — But Not Exclusivity
There are Hadiths that show preference for virgins. For instance:
❖ Jābir ibn ʿAbdullah رضي الله عنهما narrated:
After marrying a widow, the Prophet ﷺ asked him:
“Why did you not marry a virgin, so that you could play with her and she with you?”
— [Sahih al-Bukhārī, Kitāb an-Nikāḥ, Bāb Tazwīj ath-Thayyib (5089)]
Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله commented:
“This ḥadīth indicates the encouragement to marry a virgin.”
— (Fatḥ al-Bārī, 9/123)
However, this does not prohibit marriage to widows — it merely highlights an advantage of marrying virgins.
❖ The Prophet ﷺ Married Widows
Although the Prophet ﷺ married ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها as a virgin, all his other wives were widows.
These marriages were for greater purposes:- To strengthen ties with tribes,
- To support widows,
- And to spread the message of Islam through noble social conduct.
