ISLAM NEWSROOM  "News We Need - When We Need It"

Reprint From: "Answering Harsh Questions About Islam"
- by Yusuf Estes

A Frequent Question is about:

Aisha's age when she married Muhammad?

Very important question has an amazing answer. A student in a Catholic school was asked about age of Aisha when she married prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him:

I'm a student in St. Patrick's Catholic school in Karachi, Pakistan. A teacher asked me:

"Why did Muhammad marry a little immature, 5 or 6 year old girl?"

Our teachers are not Muslims. They question us to weaken our faith or leave Islam. Please give me the best answer, inshallah.

Answer to this question is simple:He didn't. 

"Why would Mohamed marry a little 5 or 6 year old girl (Aisha) when she is only an immature child?"

Ask the right way. "Did Muhammad marry a girl too young for marriage?"

Answer is: "NO."

There is a record of this, narrated by Aisha, in Saheeh Al Bukhari (at the end of this).

Note: 
1. It was the custom of the Arab people to make arranged marriages of their children at any age - even new born babies - to insure tribal relations and protect social status, etc.

Note: 
2. Her parents had already engaged her to be married to a non-Muslim - before offering her in marriage to the prophet, peace be upon him.

Note: 
3. Aisha's father (Abu Bakr) offered her in marriage to his life long friend, Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Note: 
4. Islam came to correct all of the wrong things people were doing.

Note: 5. Muhammad, peace be upon him, accepted to be engaged, but didn't marry her until years later!

First of all, not all questions are true questions. Sometime people put statments in the questions that are not true.

Therefore, we have to clarify some facts before we go any further:

"Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not marry Aisha when she was immature or a little girl."

Let's start at the beginning and put this all in perspective ~

"World's Greatest Love Story"

First, the source of information: We begin knowing there is only one God, and not making partners with Him. Then what God (Allah) offers about "Rights and Limits".  

In the 8th century women had no rights. Men had no limits dealing with women. A man could get his daughter married any age. She had no say so in the matter.

Aisha is one of the major narrators of ahadeeth (traditions, narrations and stories of the prophet, peace be upon him). According to scholars, she narrated over 2,200 authentic traditions, more than most of companions of Muhammad, peace be upon him.The story of Aisha and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, comes from Aisha herself.  So, we can start there.

Her parents offered their daughter in marriage to Muhammad, peace be upon him, as was customary in their culture at the time.

However, the prophet, peace be upon him, did not accept this and they waited a a few of years, and then again offered their daughter to him in marriage.

From the hadeeth narrated by Aisha herself, she said she was 6 when her mother came to her while playing outside.

Her mother took her into their home and her father, who was a life long best friend of Muhammad, was sitting with the prophet, peace be upon him, and the offer of marriage was being discussed.

She then tells us she went back outside. This was what she says happened when she was six years old.

Cleary she was offered to Muhammad, peace be upon him, in marriage, but obviously not accepted until some years later, when she again narrates a similar incident and at that time she was married to the prophet, peace be upon him.

She tells us they consumated their marriage when she was old enough and ready (she also says she was pleased with the entire event).

So, if she is having no problem with any of this ~ WHO IS COMPLAINING?

Some people might superimpose their own hangups and personal issues on others, imaging what they might feel or do in certain cases.

God (Allah) revealed a verse in the fourth chapter of the Quran, called "The Women" to protect women from such circumstances.

Aisha's marriage to our prophet, peace be upon him, gives us the example of limitations set by Almighty God (Allah) in His Quran. 

An-Nisa (The Women) Chapter 4:19  

 "O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will."

Let's go over the information in more detail:

1. It was NOT Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who wanted to marry Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her.

2. It was Aisha's father and mother offering their daughter, in marriage to him, peace be on him.

3. They had offered their daughter, Aisha, more than once to the prophet, peace be upon him.

4. This was the custom of the Arabs in those days.

5. Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not accept the first offer, even though it was a custom.

6.  Aisha says she went back outside to her friends.

7. Aisha had already been "engaged" previously, and it did not work out.

WHEN SHE WAS 6, SHE DID NOT MARRY MUHAMMAD, peace be upon him.

When she was old enough to marry according to Islam (able to bear children) he accepted the marriage proposal and she married Muhammad, peace be upon him.

We learn a girl must be old enough to have children and to be able to determine what her will is.

The prophet, peace be upon him, married her at the youngest age a girl can get married, old enough to have children and willing to be married.

 ~ *Also, she was a virgin. This showed Muslims how to treat young girls when they get married and not rush into having sex with them until they are ready and prepared.

This is all recorded in hadiths (narrations from those close to the prophet, peace be upon him) all narrated by Aisha herself regarding the time she was married to prophet, peace be upon him.

Compare This to

~ ROMEO AND JULIET ~

Let's compare the English Classic of William Shakespere's "Romeo And Juliet" to the story of "Muhammad and Aisha."

William Shakespeare tells a story of two young teenagers sneaking around, disobeying their parents, commiting adultery, then when they couldn't get what they wanted, both of them committed suicide.
(by the way, according to Judaism, Christianity and Islam - they both go to Hell forever)

Shakespere could have done the world a much better service by telling the true story of "Muhammad and Aisha." These were real people, who did believe in the One God of Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them), they lived blessed lives on earth and will live beautiful lives in Paradise - "Happily ever after" (really!)

MOTHER OF THE BELIEVERS

Aisha was also given the distinct title of  Ummul Mu'mineen (Mother of the Believers) although she never had a child. Allah honored her for her patience and dedication.

Again, it is Aisha herself, may Allah be pleased with her, telling in her own words all about offers of marriage from her father to the prophet, peace be upon him, and of the actual marriage when it did take place years later.

She also describes, in glowing terms, their engagement, marriage, and their life together - all in the best of terms. Aisha never said a single bad thing against her husband and described him as the best of men and the example of the Quran Walking.

She learned from him and passed on valuable knowledge of family relations in general, and marriage in particular, through her own relationship with prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. 

She tells of playing together, running races, enjoying sports and competitive events together, and mentions her personal intimacy with prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the most beautiful terms.

Her advice and instructions to both women and men regarding establishing and maintaining the best relationships between a man and a wife is still the best of counsel we find today.

Think about it, Allah the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, defended her honor and integrity in His Book. (see above)

Aisha gives a beautiful account of marriage to the Muhammad, peace be upon him, in detailed descriptions of events and happenings before and during their marriage.

She also memorized and shared events of Muhammad, peace be upon him, along with her firm belief of their being reunited in Paradise. This was the best of marriages between a man and a woman in human history.

GOODNESS COMES TO BELIEVERS

I would like to encourage all of our brothers and sisters everywhere, to keep in mind what Islam teaches us regarding all such issues. Goodness only comes to those who are the true believers and the bad only reaches those who do evil and deny Almighty God.

This life is but a test for all of us. Allah Almighty will bring us all back in front of Him, for Judgment. Then the disbelievers will see what it was they were denying and lying about.

We ask Allah the Almighty One God to guide all of the people and save all of us, ameen.

Aisha said: The Prophet, peace be upon him, was engaged to me when I was six.
We (family) moved to Medina and stayed at home of Bani alHarith bin Khazraj.
Then I got ill and my hair fell out. Later on my hair grew back.
My mother (Umm Ruman) came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her. I didn't know what she wanted to do. She held my hand and had me stand at the door of the house. I was out of breath, when I got my breath, she took some water and washed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There I saw Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me. Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and I was a girl of nine years of age.

       Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol. 5, Book 58, #234

Learn about the rights of women (and all of us) on www.IslamsWomen.com

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