Why was the previously married woman given precedence over the virgin in the Holy Quran, while the virgin was given precedence over the previously married woman in the Prophetic Sunnah? What is the ruling on advising marriage to one of them over the other? Is a girl who has committed an abomination and lost her virginity, or not lost it, or committed it anally, considered a virgin or a previously married woman? What is the ruling on marrying her or advising marriage to her? Does marriage to a virgin or a previously married woman affect a person?

The precedence of previously married women (thayyibat) over virgins (abkar) in the verse does not imply preference, because the letter "waw" (and) denotes a general conjunction. This might be due to the fact that most of the Prophet's (peace be upon him) wives were previously married when he wed them, or it might be a stylistic choice for educational purposes.

The Sunnah (definition) indicates the preference for virgins in marriage, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Marry virgins, for they have sweeter mouths, more fertile wombs, and are more content with little." And his saying to Jabir: "Why did you not marry a virgin whom you could sport with and she with you?" Marrying a virgin is a recommended act in Islamic law, unless necessity dictates marrying a previously married woman, as Jabir did. There is no harm in advising someone to marry either a virgin or a previously married woman.

A thayyib (previously married woman) is one who has been married through a valid contract or due to a misconception, and not through anal intercourse or fornication.