At 05:31 PM 12/31/2012, Harry Veeder wrote:
Sorry I am confused.
What is considered false here?
A nine year old is barely out diapers
or
that muslims do not disapprove of sexual relations with a nine year old?
Obviously a nine year old is not "barely out of diapers."
Muslims disapprove of sexual relations outside of marriage, so the
issue is marriage (and specifically the consummation of marriage).
Muslims disapprove of the consummation of a marraige with a girl who
is not sexually mature, specifically mentstruating. It's considered
rape, because mensturation is a condition for a woman having reached
the age of consent. This is not the only condition; parents,
generally, determine the right to consent as well, and girls are not
automatically free to make their own choices until much later than
nine. Marriage requires consent. Specifically, the woman must consent.
Muslims disapprove of the marriage of minor children without parental
consent. (This is the same as U.S. law, generally.)
*Some* Muslims believe that the wife of the Prophet was nine when she
was married, and assume that the marriage was consummated. But this
is actually not solidly establshed. Nevertheless, *those Muslims*
sometimes, from the example, allow 9 years old as a lower limit, but,
in fact, the limit is sexual maturity -- or whatever standard is
established by the society, *in addition to parental consent.*
(Technically, the wali consents, who is usually the father, but it
can be others. A free woman sometimes appoints a wali, I've served.)
*Most* Muslims disapprove of marriage that is not recognised by the
society in which the parties live.
Because of law in the United States, then, and in that place, Muslims
disapprove of sexual relations with a nine-year old, no matter what
the state of sexual maturity or parental consent. Under other
conditions, their opinion might differ.
All these discussions were about the *limits*.
U.S. law, in some states, if I'm correct, still sets no minimum age
for marriage, but requires judicial consent below a certain age, sometimes 14.
