Umm Darda' (widow's celibacy)
Answered by Shaykh Gibril F Haddad
Question:
I wonder if you can shed some light on the issue of people marrying after their spouse dies? A friend showed me the following which implies it's not such a good idea if one wants to be reunited with their spouse in the next life. "jubayr ibn nufayr said that ummu darda said to abu darda" you asked my hand in marriage from my parent's in this life, and so they gave me in marriage to you, and I ask to marry you in the hereafter." He said to her "so do not marry anyone after (my death)" When mu'awiya proposed to her she told him about what happened between her and her husband. To this mu'awiya said "so observe fasting" And "Maymon ibn mahran said muawiya proposed to umm darda but she refused to marry him, saying " I heard abu darda saying, " Allah's messenger said: the woman will be given (in janna) to the last man she married (in this life)" Are these correct? What about if one is marrying so that their children have someone to look after them? Wouldn't this mean that the Prophet, upon him be peace, wouldn't be reunited with sayida khadija? Or is it just for women, not for men?
Answer:
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