Marrying widows is heavenly

In life we lose loved ones and we become permanently hurt. Sometimes we think that with time we can get over the trauma. The fact is that it is not the time that heals, it may not be the case for a widow.

He that outlives a wife whom he has long loved, sees himself disjoined from the only mind that has the same hopes, and fears, and interest; from the only companion with whom he has shared much good

The death of a spouse may be the end of the road but not necessarily the end of the journey. One can still re-marry after the loss of a spouse because life has to continue. Most religions also permit this. The bible actually allows it. The Jewish culture in biblical times encouraged this for different reasons. In most cases, the Bible addresses the issue of widows rather than widowers. However, there is nothing within the context of any of these passages leading us to believe that the standard was gender-specific.

Primarily addressing widows was likely to have been for three reasons. The first was that men usually worked outside the home, sometimes doing dangerous jobs. Men in biblical times, just as now, had shorter life spans on average than their wives. Thus, widows were far more common than widowers. The second reason was the fact that women rarely had any means of supporting themselves and their children in biblical times. Therefore remarriage was the primary way in which a widow would regain protection and provision for the needs of herself and her children.

The third issue was that continuing the husband’s family line and name was a concern in Jewish culture. As a result, if a husband died without leaving any children to carry on his name, his brother was encouraged to marry the widow and provide her with children. Other men in the family had the option also, but there was a proper order in which each man had the opportunity to fulfill or pass on this responsibility.

 In Islam, re-marriage of widows has been greatly emphasized. At the same time, it has also been often stated that people, who bring up orphans, are very dear to Allah. This should give a very good idea, as to what is the reward for someone who gets married to a widow and supports her children from her deceased husband. It is even believed that a spouse having second marriage with you can prove her/him self much better if he/she determines to make this relation better than previous one. They tend to avoid repeating the mistakes done in previous matrimonial relation. Don’t ignore widows and widowers because they need you in their lives.

senkumbai@yahoo.com

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