Muslimah

Question I know a widow who has children, and I want to get married. I am wondering whether I should marry her or a virgin who has not been married before? Answer Praise be to Allaah. This depends on the situation of the husband; it may be that marriage to a widow is more suitable for him, and better. The widow may be a lady of religious commitment and good character, such that you would not want to let the opportunity to marry such a woman “slip through your fingers”, and you could not find a virgin of such religious commitment and character. But generally speaking, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged marriage to virgins. There is the story of Jaabir (may Allaah be pleased with him), whose father had died, leaving him with sisters. In his case it would not have been suitable for him to marry a virgin who was young like them. So he wanted to marry a woman who had been previously married, who could take care of them and look after them, a...

Question My husband has died. What should I do? What are the things that I am not allowed to do? Answer Praise be to Allaah. It is narrated in the hadeeth that a recently widowed woman is not allowed to do five things, and that she is required to do five things. 1 – She should stay in her house where she was living when her husband died; this is the place where she should stay until the end of her ‘iddah, which lasts for four months and ten days, unless she is pregnant, in which case her ‘iddah ends when she gives birth, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their ‘Iddah (prescribed period) is until they lay down their burden” [al-Talaaq 65:4] She should not leave the house except in case of need or necessity, such as going to the hospital if she is sick or to buy things she needs from the marketplace such as food etc., if she does not have someone with her who can do t...