Can I marry a divorced person as a Muslim?

What the Quran and Sunnah say

The Quran tells the community to help single people marry, and scholars include divorced and widowed people in "the singles":

When the Companion Jabir married a widow so she could look after his younger sisters after his father died, the Prophet ﷺ said, "May Allah bless you" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5367). Marrying a previously married person is a respected choice, not a second-best one.

Leaving stigma behind

In some cultures, a divorced person is treated as "damaged" or hard to marry. Islam rejects that attitude. Divorce is a lawful way out of a marriage that can't work, and remarriage is a door to a new start. See How do I cope with loneliness after a divorce as a Muslim?

Practical things to check

• The earlier marriage is truly over. Make sure the divorce is valid Islamically and legally.
• The waiting period is finished. A woman cannot be married during her iddah (Quran 2:235).
• Children from the earlier marriage. Ask how they would feel and who looks after them, and plan how the home will work.
• Honesty about the past. You don't need every detail, but you should be open about things that affect the marriage.

Converts who were married before becoming Muslim should check their earlier marriage with a trusted imam before remarrying. See Is a civil divorce valid in Islam? and What is iddah and how long is the waiting period?

Are there any downsides?

Every marriage has its own challenges. A previously married partner may bring children, debts or old hurts, but also maturity and experience. Judge the person, not the label. The Prophet ﷺ advised choosing someone whose religion and character you are pleased with (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1084), and that applies whether the person is single, divorced or widowed.