Young Marriage of `Âishah(R)
-------------
Sadly we currently see the efforts of the Christian missionary activity focused
primarily on derailing Islam now more than any other period in history. Thus,
we witness numerous travesties and parodies coming from them in their attempts
to twist, manipulate and totally abuse historical and etymological facts. These
polemics range from a variety of the utterly hilarious to the outright abusive
and cruel. One such dishonest Christian missionary polemic has been the
allegation of the young marriage of `Âishah(R) to the Prophet Muhammad(P). The
missionaries try to accuse the Prophet of being a child molester, albeit in
politically correct terms, due to the fact that `Âishah(R) was betrothed
(zawaj) at the age of 6 years old and the marriage was consummated (nikâh) a
few years after the marriage at 9 years old when she was in full puberty. The
lapse of time between the zawaj and nikâh of `Âishah(R) clearly shows that her
parents were waiting for her to
reach puberty before her marriage was consummated. If it were not for the fact
that some gullible Christians have been parroting the claims without
understanding the reasons behind it, we would have not even bothered with a
refutation. Such a claim is based only on conjecture and moral relativism, and
not on fact. This article seeks to refute the allegation, insha'allah.
Puberty And Young Marriage In Semitic Culture
-------------
The hilarity of the whole saga of Christian missionaries accusing the
Prophet(P) of committing "child molestation" is that this contradicts the basic
fact that a girl becomes a woman when she begins her menstruation cycle. The
significance of menstruation that anyone with the slightest familiarity with
physiology will tell you is that it is a sign that the girl is being prepared
to become a mother.
Women reach puberty at different ages ranging from 8-12 years old depending on
genetics, race and environment. We read that
There is little difference in the size of boys and girls until the age of ten,
the growth spurt at puberty starts earlier in girls but lasts longer in boys.[1]
We also read that
The first signs of puberty occur around age 9 or 10 in girls but closer to 12
in boys[.][2]
Women in warmer environments reach puberty at a much earlier age than those in
cold environments.
The average temperature of the country or province is considered the chief
factor here, not only with regard to menstruation but as regards the whole of
sexual development at puberty.[3]
Marriage at the early years of puberty was acceptable in 7th century Arabia as
it was the social norm in all Semitic cultures from the Israelites to the Arabs
and all nations in between. According to Hâ-Talmûd Hâ-Bavlî, which the Jews
regard as their "oral Torah", Sanhedrin 76b clearly states that it is
preferable that a woman be married when she has her first menses, and in
Ketuvot 6a there are rules regarding sexual intercourse with girls who have not
yet menstruated. This is further collaborated when Jim West, ThD, a Baptist
minister, observes the following tradition of the Israelites:
The wife was to be taken from within the larger family circle (usually at the
outset of puberty or around the age of 13) in order to maintain the purity of
the family line.[4]
Puberty has always been a symbol of adulthood throughout history.
Puberty is defined as the age or period at which a person is first capable of
sexual reproduction, in other eras of history, a rite or celebration of this
landmark event was a part of the culture.[5]
The renowned sexologists, R.E.L. Masters and Allan Edwards, in their study of
Afro-Asian sexual expression states the following
Today, in many parts of North Africa, Arabia, and India, girls are wedded and
bedded between the ages of five and nine; and no self-respecting female remains
unmarried beyond the age of puberty.[6]
Were There Any Objections to the Marriage of the Prophet(P) to `Âishah(R)?
----------------
The answer to this is no. There are absolutely no records from Muslim, secular,
or any other historical sources which even implicitly display anything other
than utter joy from all parties involved over this marriage. Nabia Abbott
describes the marriage of `Âishah(R) to the Prophet(P) as follows.
In no version is there any comment made on the disparity of the ages between
Mohammed and Aishah or on the tender age of the bride who, at the most, could
not have been over ten years old and who was still much enamoured with her
play.[7]
Even the well-known critical Orientalist, W. Montgomery Watt, said the
following about the Prophet's moral character:
>From the standpoint of Muhammad's time, then, the allegations of treachery and
>sensuality cannot be maintained. His contemporaries did not find him morally
>defective in any way. On the contrary, some of the acts criticized by the
>modern Westerner show that Muhammad's standards were higher than those of his
>time.[8]
Aside from the fact that no one was displeased with him or his actions, he was
a paramount example of moral character in his society and time. Therefore, to
judge the Prophet's morality based on the standards of our society and culture
today is not only absurd, but also unfair.
Marriage At Puberty Today
-----------------
The Prophet's contemporaries (both enemies and friends) clearly accepted the
Prophet's marriage to `Âishah(R) without any problem. We see the evidence for
this by the lack of criticism against the marriage until modern times. However,
a change in culture has caused the change in our times today.
Even today in the 21st century, the age of sexual consent is still quite low in
many places. In Japan, people can legally have sex at age 13, and in Spain they
can legally have sex at the age of 12 years old[9].
A 40-year-old man having sex with a 14-year-old woman may be a "paedophile" in
the United States, but neither in China today, where the age of consent is 14,
nor in the United States in the last century. Biology is a much better standard
by which to determine these things, not the arbitrariness of human culture. In
the U.S. during the last century, the age of consent was 10 years old.
California was the first state to change the age of consent to 14, which it did
in 1889. After California, other U.S. states joined in and raised the age of
consent too[10].
Islam And the Age of Puberty
------------------
Islam clearly teaches that adulthood starts when a person have attained puberty.
>From the collection of Bukhari[11], we read the following tracts:
The boy attaining the age of puberty and the validity of their witness and the
Statement of Allâh:
"And when the children among you attain the age of puberty, then let them also
ask for permission (to enter)." Qur'ân 24:59.
Al Mughira said, "I attained puberty at the age of twelve." The attaining of
puberty by women is with the start of menses, as is referred to by the
Statement of Allâh:
"Such of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them
prescribed period if you have any doubts (about their periods) is three
months..." [Qur'ân, 65:4]
Thus, it is part of Islam to acknowledge the coming of puberty as the start of
adulthood. It is the time when the person has already matured and is ready the
responsibilities of an adult. So on what basis do the missionaries criticize
the marriage of `Âishah(R) since her marriage was consummated when she had
reached puberty?
We also read from the same source that
...Al-Hasan bin Salih said, "I saw a neighbour of mine who became a grandmother
at the age of twenty-one."(1)
(1) The note for this reference says: "This women attained puberty at the age
of nine and married to give birth to a daughter at ten; the daughter had the
same experience."[12]
Thus, it is clear that if the charge of "child molestation" were to be advanced
against the Prophet(P), we would also have to include all the Semitic people
who accepted marriage at puberty as the norm.
Conclusions
------------------
We have thus seen that
It was the norm of the Semitic society in 7th century Arabia to allow pubescent
marriages.
There was no reports of opposition to the Prophet's marriage to `Âishah(R)
either from his friends or his enemies.
Even today, there are cultures who still allow pubescent marriage for their
young women.
In spite of facing these well-known facts, the missionaries would still have
the audacity to point a finger at the Prophet Muhammad(P) for immorality. Yet,
it was he who had brought justice to the women of Arabia and raised them to a
level they had not seen before in their society, something which ancient
civilizations have never done to their women.
When Muhammad(P) first became the Prophet of Islam, the pagans of Arabia had
inherited a disregard for women as had been passed down among their Jewish and
Christian neighbours. So disgraceful was it considered among them to be blessed
with a female child that they would go so far as to bury this baby alive in
order to avoid the disgrace associated with female children.
"When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) a female (child) his
face darkens and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide
himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it
on (sufferance and) contempt or bury it in the dust? Ah! what an evil (choice)
they decide on!"[13]
Through the teachings of Islam, Muhammad(P) put a swift and resounding end to
this evil practice. God tells us that on the Day of Judgment, the female child
will be questioned for what crime she was killed.
"When the female (infant) buried alive is questioned - for what crime she was
killed."[14]
Not only did Muhammad(P) severely discouraged and condemned this act, he(P)
also used to teach them to respect and cherish their daughters and mothers as
partners and sources of salvation for the men of their family.
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated that
The Prophet(P) said: 'If anyone cares for three daughters, disciplines them,
marries them, and does good by them, he will enter Paradise.'[15]
Abdullah the son of Abbas narrated that
The Prophet(P) said: 'If anyone has a female child, and does not bury her
alive, or slight her, or prefer his male children over her, Allâh will bring
him into Paradise.'[16]
The Prophet(P) is also cited in Saheeh Muslim as saying
'Whoever maintains two girls till they attain maturity, he and I will come on
the Day of Resurrection like this'; and he joined his fingers.
In other words, if one loves the Messenger of God(P) and wishes to be with him
on the day of resurrection in heaven, then they should do good by their
daughters. This is certainly not the act of a "child molester", as the
missionaries would like us to believe.
Finally, we end this with a citation from the Holy Prophet(P), who said
"I have come to defend the two oppressed peoples: women and orphans."
The Prophet Muhammad(P)
Appendix: A married nine-year old in Thailand gives birth
A news article from The New Straits Times, Malaysia dated 10th of March, 2001
about a nine-year old girl living in northern Thailand giving birth to a baby
girl. The fact that a nine-year old girl is mature enough to give birth proves
the point above about girls reaching puberty earlier than men.
Mohd Elfie Nieshaem Juferi
