Is it better for me to marry a widow with children or a virgin who has never been married?

Marrying a widow depends on the husband's situation; it might be better for him, especially if the widow is of high religiousness and character. Although the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, generally encouraged marrying virgins, there are exceptional cases, as happened with Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him. When his father died, leaving him with young sisters, he preferred to marry a previously married woman (thayyib) who could care for them and discipline them. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, approved of this and said to him: "Why didn't you marry a virgin, that you might play with her and she play with you?" Jabir replied: "O Messenger of Allah, my father died or was martyred, and I have young sisters. So I disliked marrying someone like them who would neither discipline them nor care for them. Thus, I married a thayyib to care for them and discipline them." Therefore, the default is to marry a virgin, unless the benefit in marrying a previously married woman (thayyib) is weightier.