Short answer
Yes. Once her iddah of four months and ten days (or until birth, if she is pregnant) is over, a widow is free to marry again, and Islam encourages it when she wishes. Most of the Prophet's ﷺ wives had been widowed or divorced before. Shame around widow remarriage is a cultural custom with no basis in the deen.
Remarriage is permissible after the iddah ends, and recommended when she needs support or fears temptation. During the iddah a nikah is not valid and an open proposal is haram, though an indirect hint is allowed. As an adult she may contract it herself, though involving her wali is sunnah.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Her new nikah needs her wali, as with every woman's nikah.
- Maliki
- Her new nikah needs her wali, as with every woman's nikah.
- Hanbali
- Her new nikah needs her wali, as with every woman's nikah.
Explanation
Allah says widows wait "four months and ten days. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner" (2:234). The next ayah allows a hint of proposal during the iddah itself. So the Quran expects widows to remarry if they choose.
When Umm Salamah's husband died, the Prophet ﷺ taught her to say: "O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better." She wondered who could be better than Abu Salamah, and then the Prophet ﷺ himself proposed to her. Asma bint Umays was widowed twice and married again each time. In the early community, a widow's remarriage was normal and respected.
Points to know:
- Timing. No nikah until the iddah ends. Use the iddah calculator. See marrying during iddah.
- Inheritance. Her share from her late husband is unaffected by remarrying.
- Children. In the Hanafi school, a mother who marries a man who is not a mahram relative of the children may lose custody of young children to the next woman entitled, such as the maternal grandmother. Ask a mufti before deciding. See custody.
- Loyalty. Remarrying is not disloyalty to the late husband. Choosing not to remarry is also her right.
For the iddah itself, see what a widow can do during iddah.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:234
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُتَوَفَّوْنَ مِنكُمْ وَيَذَرُونَ أَزْوَٰجًۭا يَتَرَبَّصْنَ بِأَنفُسِهِنَّ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍۢ وَعَشْرًۭا ۖ فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا فَعَلْنَ فِىٓ أَنفُسِهِنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ ﴿٢٣٤﴾
And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind - they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten [days]. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allah is [fully] Acquainted with what you do.
After the iddah a widow is free to remarry.
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:235
وَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِيمَا عَرَّضْتُم بِهِۦ مِنْ خِطْبَةِ ٱلنِّسَآءِ أَوْ أَكْنَنتُمْ فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ عَلِمَ ٱللَّهُ أَنَّكُمْ سَتَذْكُرُونَهُنَّ وَلَٰكِن لَّا تُوَاعِدُوهُنَّ سِرًّا إِلَّآ أَن تَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا مَّعْرُوفًۭا ۚ وَلَا تَعْزِمُوا۟ عُقْدَةَ ٱلنِّكَاحِ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ ٱلْكِتَٰبُ أَجَلَهُۥ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ فَٱحْذَرُوهُ ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌۭ ﴿٢٣٥﴾
There is no blame upon you for that to which you [indirectly] allude concerning a proposal to women or for what you conceal within yourselves. Allah knows that you will have them in mind. But do not promise them secretly except for saying a proper saying. And do not determine to undertake a marriage contract until the decreed period reaches its end. And know that Allah knows what is within yourselves, so beware of Him. And know that Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing.
A hint of proposal to a widow is allowed even in her iddah.
Sahih Muslim 918
Sahih... اللهم أجرني في مصيبتي واخلف لي خيرا منها ...
"O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better."
The dua the Prophet ﷺ taught a widow, after which she remarried.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-'Iddah. The widow's iddah and the hint of proposal.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, Bab al-Hadanah. A mother who marries a man not related to the child loses custody.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.