Can a Divorcee Marry a Man Who Has Never Married Before?

It is to be noted first that the most fundamental question when choosing a partner that of the strength of his/her religion. If the prospective partner is of good character, with a strong religious inclination, and the two people are happy and feel compatible with one another, other considerations are not of such importance.

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: “From a Muslim female perspective, there is nothing unfair about this type of marriage with this man, if you are otherwise compatible with one other. It is not stated anywhere in the Islamic sources that a divorcee with children cannot marry a man who has never been married. In fact, we have lots of precedents for it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself was married to Khadijah, who had children from her previous marriage, and he himself was never married before. Since there is nothing in the sources to prohibit it, it is deemed as permissible.