It is one thing to give a mere opinion, and it's entirely a different thing to prohibit something. Islam doesn't prohibit marriage with divorced women. Also, the context is not clear as to why the Prophet, peace be upon him, said it to that man, or if there was a growing trend among the society of that time that prompted the Prophet to say it.
Here is something that is clear though: Women with strings attached to them are poisonous. Her previous boyfriend still lingering around the corner, or is still texting her, or they still meet when she's outside walking, or he is still not "un-friended" from the social media account will make the marriage poisoned. And if she had children from a previous marriage or relationship, then this former man will always be part of their life together. A virgin who is all yours for life doesn't have that baggage. And I am 100% in agreement that men who have never been married before should marry virgin women. It will mean the world to him when he takes her virginity all to himself, and he becomes everything to her. The sun will only rise and set on him according to her. It would linger in his heart that he wished he had married a virgin when he got married if she wasn't.
So yes, I agree with the Prophet that fresh men should marry virgins. Women with baggage attached to them (children from previous marriages) can be married to older men, especially to those who have experienced marriage before and already have grown children, not to fresh young men who never experienced marriage before.
That's my opinion. Welcome to the board.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah
