Teenager Marrying Older Woman

18-2-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

I am a teenager,. but I have agreed to marry a woman who is half older than me and very big in body size. So please advice me if this is a problem.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

From the Sharee'ah point of view, difference in age between spouses makes no problem. The Prophet married Khadeedjah – the mother of the believers – when he was twenty-five while she was forty. Also, he married ‘Aa’ishah when he was fifty and she was nine years old. The same happened to many of his Companions since cordiality between the spouses constitutes the essence of marriage. So, Islam promotes marrying the lovable, affectionate, fertile, and virgin woman. The Prophet said: “Marry the affectionate and fertile woman, for I will exceed other nations with your great number.” [Abu Daawood]

Another Hadeeth reads: “Marry the virgin women, since they are nicer, more fertile, and accept what is available (i.e. concerning worldly matters).” [Ibn Maajah]

If the conditions of a valid marriage are met and there are no other impediments, then you can marry this woman, although it is better for one to marry a woman who is his age or near that since it is better to have true and full cordiality.

However, we advise you to act in accordance with the Prophetic guidance: “A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, her family lineage, her beauty and her religion. So choose the religious one, you will prosper.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Also, we ask you to seek advice of those wise people who are around you since: “one who seeks guidance will not fail, nor will he who seeks advice regret.”

Allah knows best.