Explaining the Marriage of Ayesha R.A.

Arabia still has the same hot climate today. There are also different parts of World having the same hot climate. Do girls reach to the age of puberty at 9? Is there a scientific research and result for it? We must bring our evidences when we claim something. Also, even if it the case with Arabia, Muslims from different parts of World, rather colder climates, decreed that girls can be married at the age of 9 solely based on this narration.

format_quote Originally Posted by MuhammadHamza1

Assalamu Alaikum.
I am a new member and I have joined solely to explain the controversial issues of Islam.
I will keep them one at a time.
THE MARRIAGE OF AYESHA R.A.
Why did it happen at such a young age,This is a valid question.
According to Saheeh Report,she was married at 6 and the marriage was consummated at the age 9.
1}-The Hot Climate.
Back then in the extreme hot climate of Arabia.Kids actually grew faster.Am I kidding?No.
The French Philosopher Montesquieu,who was actually a staunch critic of Islam and Religion in general stated in "THE SPIRIT OF LAWS that was used in developing the American Constitution that in hot climates,women are marriageable at age 8,9,10 and by the age of 20,they were even considered old.
2.
In Islam,forced marriages are not allowed.Nor can a minor be forced to marry,except under necessary circumstances.But let us consider that the hot climate did not play a part.Then this would become a marriage of a minor.And for the marriage of the minor,read the following fatwa I copied.

It is permissible for a man to arrange a marriage for his young son even if he has not reached puberty; it is also permissible for him to arrange a marriage for his young daughter even if she had not reached the age of puberty. It was narrated that there was consensus on this point, but that is provided that compatibility is taken into account and that a clear and real interest is served by this marriage.
Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that the father may arrange a marriage for his young daughter without consulting her. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) married ‘Aa’ishah when she was six years old.
End quote from at-Tamheed, 19/98
Ismaa‘eel ibn Ishaaq (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The father may arrange a marriage for a young (daughter) according to the consensus of the Muslims, and that is binding on her.
End quote from at-Tamheed, 19/84
Ibn Shubrumah disagreed with that, as we shall see below.
Secondly:
It is not prescribed to arrange a marriage for a young girl unless there is a clear and real interest to be served by doing so. The same applies to young boys, but the ruling is emphasized more with regard to girls because a boy has the power of divorce (talaaq).
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
It should be noted that ash-Shaafa‘i and his companions said: It is recommended for the father or grandfather not to arrange a marriage for a virgin until she reaches the age of puberty and he seeks her consent, lest she find herself trapped in a marriage that she resents. What they said is not contrary to the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah, because what they meant is that he should not give her in marriage before puberty if there is no clear and real interest to be served by that for which there is the fear that it will be missed by delaying marriage, such as the story of ‘Aa’ishah. In that case (i.e., if there is a clear and real interest to be served) it is recommended not to miss the opportunity to marry that husband, because the father is enjoined to take care of his children’s interests, not to neglect them.
End quote from Sharh Muslim, 9/206
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was of the view that in the case of a girl who has reached the age of nine years it is stipulated that she give consent and he said: This is the view favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, and this is the correct view.
With regard to the girl who is younger than the age of nine years, he favoured the view that the father does not have the right to arrange a marriage. He narrated from Ibn Shubrumah (may Allah have mercy on him) that he said: It is not permissible to arrange a marriage for a young girl who has not reached the age of puberty, because if we say that that is subject to her consent, her consent does not count (because she is too young to make such decisions), and when she does reach the age of puberty we believe that she should not be forced into a marriage. The Shaykh said: This view is the correct one, that the father should not arrange a marriage for his daughter until she reaches the age of puberty, and when she reaches the age of puberty he should not arrange a marriage unless she gives her consent.
But if we assume that a man regards this suitor as compatible and he is old, and there is the fear that if he passes away and guardianship of the girl passes to her brothers, they may not take the matter of her marriage seriously and they may arrange her marriage according to their whims and desires, not according to what is in her best interests, and he thinks that it is in her best interests to arrange her marriage to someone who is compatible, there is nothing wrong with that, but she will have the choice when she grows up; if she wishes she may say: I do not agree to this and I do not want it.
If the matter is like this, then the safest option is not to arrange her marriage and to entrust her to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted. Perhaps now he thinks that this man is compatible but then the man’s situation may change, and perhaps when she reaches the age of marriage Allah will bring her a man who is better than this man, because all things are in the hand of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted.
End quote from ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 12/57-59
The Shaykh also favoured the view that marriage should not be arranged for a boy until he reaches the age of puberty.
Ash-Sharh al-Mumti‘, 12/53
With regard to consummation of the marriage with a minor, it does not become permissible by merely drawing up the marriage contract; rather the husband should not consummate the marriage with her until she is able to have intercourse, which is not necessarily at puberty. This is something that varies from one environment and time to another. With regard to that, sharee‘ah pays attention to physical makeup.
Thirdly:
From the words of the Muslim fuqaha’ concerning this issue, it is clear that marriage of minors is based on achieving clear and real interests thereby. If marriage of a young girl will serve some very real interest for her, then her guardian may arrange a marriage for her, but if no real interest will be served for her by that, then he does not have the right to arrange a marriage when she is still a minor, until she can choose for herself and give consent.
That is not a transgression against her rights, as may be said with regard to the trustee’s handling of the orphan’s wealth; it is permissible for him to buy and sell on his behalf without obtaining his consent, if that serve a clear and real interest and is more beneficial for him and his wealth.
The view concerning young boys is the same as that concerning young girls; it is essential for the guardian to take into consideration what interests may be achieved for the minor thereby.
This is applicable in all cases in which Islam gives permission to conduct affairs on behalf of another and gives guardianship of another. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
If a person has authority to handle the affairs or wealth of another, either as a guardian or by appointment as a proxy, it is not permissible for him to do whatever he wants; he has to choose that which is in (his ward’s) best interests.
End quote from Mukhtasar al-Fataawa al-Masriyyah, 796
Based on that, one should take the appropriate approach to the emotional aspect of this issue, because choosing the right person for the woman in terms of his character and choosing the right time for arranging this marriage is in fact paying attention to the woman’s natural and emotional needs and inclinations. Emotion here does not refer to love relationships and infatuations that may occur between young men and women; these relationships and ideas are one thing and the reality of life is something else. How many marriages have started with these relationships but soon failed, and how many marriages have started without prior acquaintance between the spouses but Allah created love, compassion, tranquillity and harmony between them, and they continued to live happily together.
3.
Hence,If we were to consider that even in that hot climate,Ayesha had not grown up,then the above condition would apply.It is to be noted that Ayesha was allredy engaged to a man before she married the prophet S.A.W.
4.
Quote to me a single Hadith where it shows that Ayesha was unpleased with the marriage,On the contrary,we see the exact opposite.
5.
Ayesha R.A quoted a great number of Hadiths,She become so learned that after the Prophet's demise,the companions of the Prophet S.A.W used to come to her and learn from her.The opposite of Christianity which does not allow a woman to teach.

Hence,Ayesha was not unpleased with the marriage.
And the marriage served great benefits for this Ummah.For this reliogion would not be completed without Ayesha R.A

Assalaamo alaikum



I had clearly read in the book named 'Sahaabiyaat" (radiyallaaho anhunn) that the age of aayishah rAa was 15 or 17 years at the time of her marriage with Muhammad salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam. This statement is also true in the light of Quraan and Hadeeth. According to the Holy Quraan, when orphans reach marriageable age then they should be given their inheritance. That means that there is a special age for marriage and naturally that will be after puberty.


According to hadeeth, the consent of both of the boy and girl is essential for marriage. Consent will be meaningful if a girl and a boy are adult and they understand the meaning of marriage. A girl of six years could not be accepted by the Prophet salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam for marriage. Also we read that Aayishah rAa was engaged to a mushrik boy in the pre-Islamic time. Afterwards when Abu Bakar rAa became Muslim, the mushrik father -in-law wanted to break the engagement of Aayishah rAa. Abu Bakar rAa was worried and didn't want to break it but the idolator father of the boy broke it. So this also proves that she was of marriageable age.


You should also think that Islam is a religion of wisdom. I think, a good learned Muslim will not accept a little girl of six for marriage. Then how can we expect such a thing from the Great Prophet of Allah all-Mighty, especially when we see the laws of Allah for marriage as given in the Holy Quraan and Hadeeth.

format_quote Originally Posted by Karl

What gives you the condescending and ageist assumption that "no 6 year old" would be capable of consent or of understanding marriage? Shouldn't it be on a case by case basis rather than arbitrarily discriminating merely on lunar age?

Which 6-years old child understands the meaning of consent??? I am afraid that you don't understand this matter even now!

format_quote Originally Posted by Karl

To begin with condescending and offensive slangs such as "kids" did not exist back then, and Muslims today should not employ such kuffar slangs like this. And "minor'" didn't exist either. The term minor is one derived from modern Western mentality, so the ageist concept of "minors" and "majors", being a concept small-minded and infantile in itself, should be ignored by those who are not small-minded and imbecilic. Anyone who is rational WON'T judge a person solely on their numerical age, they will instead assess them based on individual merit. Furthermore birthdays are not meant to be celebrated by Muslims, so often many of us won't even KNOW the lunar age of our offspring anyway!

The whole matter of "age of marriage" is not a "social" issue. It is a purely DOMESTIC matter that should be left down to FATHERS. I wouldn't tolerate any arrogant self-righteous outsider trespassing on my property and lecturing me that I shouldn't marry off my prepubescent daughters. The whole matter is NONE of their business, PERIOD.

Contrary to what many people seem to be claiming today, I don't think the age of puberty is becoming any earlier than it was in antiquity. Girls of my race reached the age of puberty by age 8 or 9 long ago in the past, just as they reach puberty at that same age today.

At what level of physical maturity a girl is to be married off in one for individual fathers at their own discretion to assess for themselves, rather than prying outside meddlers to dictate. It is proper and fit for girls of my race to marry as soon as they can, and BEFORE puberty. If they don't do that they become sexually frustrated and this pent up frustration turns them sour and bad. This is why I have them married off by 6 or 7 when they are really starting to become sexually interested (married in a jurisdiction I know it's legal of course, far away from the meddling intervention of busybody Cultural Marxists and Zionists).

While it is ok (scientifically speaking) for a girl (or boy) to marry during prepubescence, coitus itself should not be carried out until after menses, otherwise physical damage may occur, so consummation should wait UNTIL that time. This doesn't however mean to say that husband and prepubescent wife should unnecessarily deprive themselves of purely erotic forms of love making that doesn't involve coitus.

Very strange unnatural views, far away from the method / Sunnah of Muhammad salla Allaho alaihi wa sallam and also against science. Another cruelty is that a father cannot tolerate to support his innocent daughters in their childhood, so to get rid of their expenses, he tries to marry them at the age of six. Then on one hand he makes this act halaal by false accusations on Islam and on the other hand, he forces the husband of his 6- years old daughter to abstain from sexual act with the little child wife. It is horrible. If a father has no sympathy with his little innocent daughters then how can one expect sympathy from such a husband who accepted such a little girl for marriage. A just Muslim man shall refuse to marry such a little girl. But an unjust man even rapes such little girl, when he finds one, and usually the girl gets killed! Alas!

format_quote Originally Posted by OmAbdullah

Which 6-years old child understands the meaning of consent??? I am afraid that you don't understand this matter even now!

Ummm, those of MY race, to begin with. Six year olds of my race aren't retarded like those of yours clearly are (because the latter is basically what you are implying). You also seem to be talking of concepts alien to Islam to justify your ageist, arrogant feminist mentality. For example the notion of "childhood innocence". That is not an Islamic concept but one taken from outmoded Victorian mentality (which also believed, by extension, that women were innocent too). In reality though, everyone, regardless of their age or sex, is technically innocent provided they have not committed a crime. It is NOT something depended on lunar age. This means that there are many guilty children just as there are many innocent adults.

And btw, what in particular are you claiming is "against science"? I'm presuming that whatever it is, it's not actually against science at all, but rather, against today's plethora of pseudoscience which masquerades as "science".

Anyway, look, if you feel so strongly against early marriage, then no one is forcing YOU to marry off YOUR own daughters at a young age. So relax and don't have a meltdown over the topic. My own domestic affairs are however nothing to do with you so there's no reason for you to get all uppity over MY domestic decision making, just as I couldn't care less what you do in your domestic affairs. None of my business.