A widow has the right to marry if she wants. To my knowledge, Islam doesn't prohibit her from remarrying. The idea that a widow should drape herself in white and mourn her husband's death till eternity is a hindu practice just like women being pressured to bring jahez/dowry for the groom and his family. Pakistan and India used to be one country and many of the superstitions (widows being unlucky, for example) and traditions intermingled. The importance is to verify the ideas through Islam.
I know that even young women (in their 20s) who are divorced are shunned in Pakistan. I've even been told that if a rishta happens to come for the poor girl, the neighbors rush to the prospective family and tell them to stay away from the "divorced girl". I've also heard aunties ACTUALLY discouraging their daughters from getting a Master's Degree for fear that it might hinder her rishta prospects, as she shouldn't appear smarter than the guy.
I know this thread is about whether or not widows should get married. But some of the narrow-minded views in Desi culture are UNBELIEVABLY RIDICULOUS! They have no place in Islam. And it seems that people have intermingled culture and religion together so much that there are many misconceptions.
It's EVEN SADDER to see WOMEN putting FELLOW WOMEN down with these ABSURD BELIEFS. Women are an integral part of society just like men. The two genders compliment one another. How is desi society supposed to move forward and progress as a whole, if the women are criticized and discouraged from achieving basic rights (remarriage, for example)......and that too by OTHER WOMEN????!!!!!!!!!
YIKES, that is so sad!