Prophet Muhammad
Marry Aisha
Is the Purpose Criticizing the Marriage of Young
Girls or Distorting the Picture of Prophet
Muhammad?
Most of the Western people are astonished from the fact that the
Prophet Peace be upon him married Aisha who was just nine years
old while he was fifty. Some of them even called such marriage as rape and
some of them condemned it. Not only this, but some of them portrayed the
Prophet of Islam Peace be upon him as a man who is sexually suppressed
and considered that as the real picture of Islam!!
They have ignored the fact that such marriage in such age in such era was
a natural matter, therefore it is clear that they are not criticizing the early
marriage of a nine-year-old girl to a fifty-year-old man as much as they are
keen to criticize and distort the picture of the Prophet of Islam Peace be
upon him and instigate others against him.
Accordingly, this undermines their credibility and unveils their false human
feelings and malicious intentions under the pretext of defending the
rights of woman. If they were really seeking denouncing such marriage,
they should have spoken about such marriage as a general phenomenon
which appeared before Islam and continued after it and would not focus
their criticism on one person as if he was the one who invented such marriage
or the first one who applied it or the only one who did it.
Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him was born in a society in which
early marriage was something ordinary and natural, therefore, he married
the way others did. Moreover, his enemies, who tried to kill him, did not
use such marriage as a pretext to distort his picture or instigate against him
because it was an ordinary matter in such era, and they were themselves
marrying girls in early ages.
3
Part Two
If such Marriage was Strange,
then why didn›t the Disbelievers
of Quraish use it as a Pretext
against Muhammad?
4
If such Marriage was Strange, then why didn›t the
Disbelievers of Quraish use it as a Pretext against
Muhammad?
Those people competed in writing about such marriage and ignored the
similar cases in the era where Prophet Muhammad was living. Why
didn›t the people - who criticized the Prophet for marrying Aisha- criticize
the disbelievers who fought Muhammad and tried to kill him? They have
married girls in early ages and even preceded the Prophet Peace be upon
him in doing the same. So, if the intention of such criticizers is to criticize
the relation between an old man and a young girl, they should have then
spoken about the other similar cases which happened in the era of the
Prophet Peace be upon him.
5
Part Three
Europe also allows Marrying
Young Girls!
6
Europe also allows Marrying Young Girls!
The marriage in early ages was prevailing in Europe itself, especially the
early marriage of kings and rulers in the twelfth century for the purpose
of creating alliances guaranteeing the continuity of peace. An example
for that is the child empress «Anias», in France, the wife of two Byzantine
Emperors: Emperor Alexios Kamanos II, and the Emperor Andronikos Kamanos
I, respectively.
According to (William of Tyre), Anias was just eight years old when she
reached Constantine while Alexios was thirteen years old (1). Moreover,
the wife of Alexios Kamanos I was twelve years old when she married and
became an empress before attaining fifteen years. As for the empress of
Byzantium «Theodora» the wife of Manwel, she was thirteen years old when
she married the Prince of Jerusalem «Baldwin III»; moreover, «Margret Maria
Hingaria» married «Izak Anglos II» when she was nine years.
The age of Ainas in such era was not something extraordinary. It was even a
traditional matter that the new bride and bridegroom meet in Constantine,
in the house of the spouse who has the higher social rank (2). However,
before Alexios completed the third year as an emperor, the cousin of his
father Andronikos has appointed himself as an associate emperor (Born in
1118, i.e. he was sixty five years old) and then overthrew Alexios by force
and married «Aainas» although there were about fifty years gap between
1 William of Tyre, History of the Deeds Done Beyond the Sea, 13.4; P. Wirth, ‹Wann wurde
Kaiser Alexios II. geboren?› Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 49 (1956), 65-7.
2 One example being Anna Comnena, who was put into the care of her future mother-inlaw,
the dowager empress Mary of Alania, before she was eight years old so she could
be brought up with her fiancé Constantine (Anna Comnena, Alexiad 3.1.4; cf. 2.5.1 for a
further example)
7
them (3).
This clearly demonstrates that the marriage of young girls to men over sixty
years old was something usual in Europe among the governing class itself;
so, what about the public then? Of course such kind of marriage was prevailing
among the public in Europe itself after more than five centuries
from the marriage of Muhammad Peace be upon him and Aisha.
3 Choniates, Historia, 275-6.
8
Part Four
The Age of Consent in Most
Countries Worldwide!
9
The Age of Consent in Most Countries Worldwide!
Apart from the European traditions in the medieval ages, if we look at
the current era i.e. after 14 centuries from the marriage of the Prophet
Peace be upon him from Aisha May Allah be pleased with her we
will find that the age of consent is still early in various places. AVERT, an
international Charity Organization interested in studying the HIV/ AIDS
diseases, having its headquarters in the United Kingdom, and works hard
for preventing this disease in all countries worldwide, mentioned a detailed
table in its website about the age of consent worldwide i.e. the legal age of
practicing the sexual intercourse worldwide or the age which is considered
by the countries and governments acceptable for making a sexual relation.
AVERT stated that the Japanese people can practice sex legally in the age
of thirteen year. In Argentine, it is allowed to practice sex in the age of thirteen.
In Canada, until 1890, the allowed age of consent was twelve years (4).
Similarly, the age of consent in Mexico is twelve years. In Panama and Philippine,
the age of consent is twelve years.
In Spain (5), Cyprus (6), South Korea, the age of consent is thirteen, while
in Bolivia, the sexual age of consent is the maturity age (7).
http://www.avert.org/age-of-consent.htm
If this is the case in the 21st century, why they deny it?
All such cases took place after 14 centuries from the marriage of Prophet
4 Tories move to raise age of consent by Terry Weber, Globe and Mail, June 22, 2006.
5 specified by the Spanish Penal Code, Article 181(2)
6 Cyprus Penal Code, Article 154
10
Muhammad Peace be upon him and Aisha! You can also note that such
countries which have several cultural backgrounds allowed practicing sex
in e according to Article 308 of the Bolivian Penal Code arly age; so, why some persons
refuse respecting the traditions of a nation lived before 14 centuries? It is
not possible or logical to force other nations to follow the Western or the
American thinking concerning what is accepted or rejected! Especially before
14 centuries.
According to the said table in the website of AVERT Organization, the
legal consent age is different from state to another inside America itself,
for example, the sexual fitness age in Aiwa, Missouri and South Carolina
is fourteen while the age of consent in Arizona, California, North Dakota,
Oregon, Tennessee and Weskinson is not less than eighteen.
http://www.ageofconsent.com/comments/numberone.htm
This means that it is not logical or reasonable to criticize the other nations
on the ground of the difference between them and the West or America
concerning the age of consent. The states of the United States themselves
are different in determining this age; therefore, it is silly or illogical to criticize
an early marriage took place before 14 centuries. It is worth mentioning
here that several organizations in the West have objected to rais the age
of consent.
For example, in Canada, such organizations corresponded with the parliament
members via internet and requested to reject this proposal and demonstrated
the dangerous effects thereof (8). One of such letters mentioned:
«Dear Parliament Member,
I write to you in order to express my attitude concerning the age of consent
which was increased from fourteen years to sixteen years the proposal of
8 see http://www.ageofconsent.ca/action.html
11
increasing the age of consent is a backward dangerous movement and will
make the young males and females practice sex illegally».
If we return back to the legal age which qualifies the girl to accept or reject
the sexual relation or marriage in America and the West, we will find that
the age of ten to thirteen was the ideal acceptable age of consent in the mid
of the nineteenth century (9).
Moreover, the Americans should know that the legal age of practicing sex
was just ten years in UK and America in 1885, i.e. just one year older than
the age of Aisha when she married Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon
him before 13 centuries. Stephen Robertson wrote in this regard: «In 1885,
after the scandal which took place upon issuing the book of The Maiden
Tribute of Modern Babylon, the English writer «Sted» unveiled trading in
the young girls in London, and these campaigns became part of the war
launched against prostitution in the United States. This scandal urged the
British parliament to raise the age of consent from ten to sixteen and this
attracted the attention of the American reformers to the law of their Country
» (10).
The Western and American people should know the campaign of the Christian
Woman Association for Preventing Alcohol (WCTU 1885-1990) and
increasing the age of consent, as it was in most of the American states,
and after issuing the general law, the age of consent was determined as ten
years, while it was before seven years only in the state of Delaware (11).
http://www.internationalorder.org/scandal_response.html
9 [Waites, Matthew (2005). The Age of Consent: Young People, Sexuality and Citizenship.
Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 1-4039-2173-3, page 7.
10 Stephen Robertson, Journal of Social History, summer 2002
11 Linda R. Hirshman and Jane E. Larson, HARD BARGAINS: THE POLITICS OF SEX, Oxford
University Press, 1998, pp124-133, ISBN: 0-19-509664-9.
12
The age of consent in one of the American States was just seven years, just
120 years ago! But the Western people did not know that and just criticized
Islam and Muslims for the marriage of the Prophet Peace be upon him and
Aisha May Allah be pleased with her while she was nine years more than
1400 years ago.
Anyway, our modern age, at the beginning of the 21st century, witnessed
several early marriage cases in Europe itself, for example, the legal marriage
age in Romania is 16 years. The child Ana Maria, The Roma Gypsy
Princess, twelve years old, married the child Birita Mihai, fifteen years old.
Roma King Florin Cioaba, the father of the bride, told the journalists:
«In fact, this is a happy day in the royal house; the best days of my life it is
better for the children to marry in an early age». Fasil Eunisko, from Roma
Public Policies Center, stated: «The marriage of the princess did not happen
by force, she was the sweetheart of the king and he cannot act against her
wishes. We should preserve our traditions in order to preserve our identity
and being. Therefore, it is immoral to prohibit the traditions and norms,
and no one can prohibit it» (12).
12 DINA KYRIAKIDOU, The New Zealand Herald, October 01, 2003
13
Part Five
Is it Logical to judge a Marriage
Case that took Place before
1400 Years under the Laws of
the 1st Century?
14
Is it Logical to judge a Marriage Case that took
Place before 1400 Years under the Laws of the 1st
Century?
After demonstrating the age of consent for the American girl, which
was until the last part of the 19th century just ten years i.e. one year
older than Aisha when she married the Prophet Peace be upon him before
13 centuries; moreover, such age was just seven years in one of the
American States i.e. two years younger than Aisha May Allah be pleased
with her, and having demonstrated that the age of consent is still ranging
between twelve to thirteen years in most countries of the world, including
Western and Christian countries; accordingly, there is no ground to criticize
the marriage of the Prophet Peace be upon him and Aisha May Allah
be pleased with her which was portrayed by the instigators as an offence
against young girls.
Such instigators exploited the ignorance of the Western community about
the age of consent in the West and the non Muslim countries in order to
instigate against Islam and portray the Prophet of Islam Peace be upon
him as an offender. Such instigators are in fact hypocrite people because
they are accusing the Muslims with things practiced legally and normally
by non Muslims.
In brief, the early marriage still exist in the 21st century, and it is practiced
by European and Christian people in the 21st century; therefore, why is the
Prophet of Islam Peace be upon him blamed for such marriage which took
place before 1400 years? This clearly demonstrates the non credibility of
such instigators and their hidden aims under the pretext of defending the
rights of woman and the human rights in order to gain the sympathy of the
Western people toward Aisha the child who was «obliged» to marry a man
more than fifty years old, as they allege. However, apart from the instigaWhy
did Prophet Muhammad Marry Aisha; the Young Girl www.rasoulallah.net
15
tion of such criticizers who have concealed their actual aims, we would like
to demonstrate some points about the marriage of the Prophet of Islam
Peace be upon him and Aisha May Allah be pleased with her when she
was nine years old, in order to understand the reasons and circumstances
of such marriage.
Did they know the Arabian Peninsula before 14 Centuries?
It is worth mentioning that the Western principles and mentality in the
21st Century may not understand the Eastern & Arabian principles and
mentality in the 6th century fully and completely! There is a wide gap between
the two cultures, mentalities, and geographies. This is an important
point which should be recognized, because judging a norm practiced by an
Eastern community before fourteen centuries by a secular Western culture
in the 21st century won›t be just or accurate. Therefore, the Western people
in this era should study such norm and understand the reasons which justify
it. Anyway, such reasons are still convincing the Western and Christian
communities which do not oppose the early marriage until today.
16
Part Six
Brides in Africa are Younger
than Ten?
17
Brides in Africa are Younger than Ten?
In order to make the picture clearer to the Western people in the 21st
century, let›s compare between a nine-year-old girl in America and a nineyear-
old girl in some countries in Africa nowadays.
The American girl used to live a modern easy life with all means of entertainment,
joy and luxury, while the African girl, in some of the black-skin
countries, use to shepherd sheep, bring water from wells several kilometers
far from her house, know cocking, clean the house, participate in the
agricultural works, and carry out other tasks just like the older people in
spite of her childhood. These responsibilities make the African girl in the
21st century an intellectually mature girl who is able to run her own affairs
when her family is not at home. However, the American or European girl
is living a modern easy life and do not bear such heavy responsibilities. She
has a baby sitter if her family is not at home. Moreover, the African girl in
the above mentioned example can take care of the western girl in spite of
their equal ages. So, how about the Arab girl before 14 centuries? The Arab
girl then was living in circumstances similar to the African girl in term of
tasks and responsibilities. The Arab girl at seven and eight years, since
14 centuries, was fully mature and responsible just like the African girl in
the above mentioned example. Therefore, she cannot be considered similar
to the Western girl who has no responsibilities. Accordingly, the Western
people should not compare the circumstances of the Western girl in the
21st century with the circumstances of the Arab girl before 14 centuries,
because any judgment like this will be inaccurate and not just in the best
cases. Moreover, the Western people should take into consideration that
the body of the girl in the hot regions reaches maturity before the girls in
the cold regions. The femininity of the girl in the hot regions appears before
the femininity of girls in the cold regions; therefore, she will be qualified for
marriage in early age.
18
This is exactly the case in the Arabian Peninsula before 14 centuries.
The environment of the Arabian Peninsula makes the girls mature in early
age, contrary to the environment of Europe & America; therefore, there is
no way for the criticizers to compare.
This fact was realized by the English orientalist R.V.C. Bodley, grandson
of Sir Thomas Bodley, the founder of Bodley Library, author of «Wind in
the Sahara», «The Messenger», and other fourteen books, after visiting the
Arabian Peninsula. He said after such visit:
«Aisha, though was young, was mature and grew up quickly like the other
Arab women. Such early marriage still exists in Asia & East Europe, and
is a natural habit in Spain and Portugal until recently» (13). The English
author added: «Since she entered the house of Muhammad Peace be upon
him all people felt her presence, and if there was a girl knowing fully what
is marriage, Aisha will be such girl. She has built her character since the
first day of her life in the house of the Prophet Peace be upon him which
was attached to the Masjed.(14)
13 R.V.C. Bodley, The Messenger, p 129 (Arabic version)
14 R.V.C. Bodley, The Messenger, p 130 (Arabic version)
19
Part Seven
It is not for Satisfying a Desire!
20
It is not for Satisfying a Desire!
It is Following a Good Advice and wishing for Enhancing Relations with
a Dear Friend “The marriage of the Prophet Peace be upon him with
Aisha May Allah be pleased with her was not his own idea, it was an opinion
by a woman called Khawla Bint Hakim, for the purpose of enhancing
relations with the dearest friend of the Prophet Peace be upon him i.e. Abu
Bakr As Siddeek, father of Aisha May Allah be pleased with them by way
of affinity. Abu Bakr May Allah be pleased with him was one of the pillars
of Islam and was the closest friend to the Prophet Peace be upon him.
He was the first orthodox Caliph after the death of the Prophet Peace be
upon him. It is worth mentioning here that the marriage of Aisha was made
upon an advice by a woman i.e. such opinion means that such marriage was
conforming to the customs and traditions of society and that such woman
did not find such marriage a breach to the rights of Aisha or confiscating
her freedom as alleged by the hypocrite people. Anyway, the Prophet Peace
be upon him did not wish to reject marriage with Aisha, the daughter of
the dearest friend.
His loyalty to his friend, Abu Baker, made him pleasant to accept the offer
in order to enhance relations between them.
It is worth mentioning also that Aisha, before marrying the Prophet Peace
be upon him, was engaged to another man; Jubair Bin Mut›em Bin Adei.
I.e. marriage in an early age was a norm & a custom widely prevailing in
such era and no one denied or objected it. Moreover, after marriage, Aisha
gained a high rank in the Prophet›s life.
The Prophet Peace be upon him was asked: Who is the dearest person in
your life? He said: Aisha.
He was asked: Who is the dearest person from men? He answered: Her
21
father (15).
Therefore, the marriage of the Prophet Peace be upon him with Aisha was
not for the purpose of satisfying desires as portrayed by some people; contrary,
it was done for several purposes. If the Prophet Peace be upon him
was seeking desires, he would not then, while being twenty five years old,
marry Khadija who was fifteen years older than him, and would not refrain
from marriage until her death.
Moreover, if he was seeking desires, he would not, after the death of Khadija,
marry an old woman eighty years old; Sawda Bint Zam›a Al Aameriah
who became a widow after her husband›s death. The Prophet wanted to
console her and to be an example for all Muslims in doing good deeds for
the widows. Anyway, the marriage of the Prophet Peace be upon him with
Aisha in such early age produced great benefits to Islam & Muslims.
Being young, Aisha was able to learn and keep the principles of Islam from
the Prophet Peace be upon him quickly; therefore, she gained wide knowledge
in religion and became a reference for the old and young companions
concerning the Holy Quran, jurisprudence, interpretation, and the prophetic
traditions. She was one of the greatest scholars in jurisprudence, and was
for the companions like a teacher. They were asking her about all things in
Islam, and she delivered one fourth of the Islamic teachings (16).
The Prophet Peace be upon him has qualified Aisha to be a good source
and reference for the Muslims after him. Aisha was a young, clever, and
bright woman with a strong memory; therefore, the Prophet Peace be upon
him was confident that she will keep the great Islamic heritage assigned to
her.
The revelation was coming down to the Prophet Peace be upon him every
15 «Sunan At Termithi»-Hadith No.3886
16 «Aisha and Politics»- by Al Afaghani-p.16
22
time he is in the house of Aisha only. This was an indication to her for
focusing on understanding the great mission of her husband in order to
perform her role in guiding the Muslims. The Muslims in the reign of Abu
Baker, Omar, Othman, Ali and Mo›awiah May Allah be pleased with them
learnt a lot from her and the scholars were consulting her in the religious
issues. She remained a reference for the Muslims and a source for teaching
them their religion.
Mr. Saeed Al Afaghani said: I have spent several years studying Lady Aisha
May Allah be pleased with her. I found myself in front of a miracle, and did
not find the right description for her. She has vast knowledge, diversity of
specializations and several fields of experience; jurisprudence, prophetic
traditions, interpretation, juristic science, morals, poetry, medicine, history
She has mastered all such fields before being eighteen (17).
17 «Aisha and Politics»- by Al Afaghani-p.18,19
23
Part Eight
Let›s Pause here!
24
Let›s Pause here!
It is important to know that the instigators who exploited this marriage
to harm Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him have relied on the
ignorance of people about the details of such marriage and tried to gain the
sympathy of the western people toward Aisha as if she was an American
girl in the 21st century and was deprived of her childhood, while the actual
facts are totally different. It is not logical to compare the American or Western
girl in the 21st century with an Eastern Arabian girl before 1400 years.
This is totally illogical because it is misleading and causing misunderstanding
reality; therefore it will lead to misjudgment. If such criticizers want the
Prophet Peace be upon him before 14 centuries to marry according to the
American or Western customs in the 21st century, it is then their own affair;
they cannot impose their own principles on generations preceding them
several hundreds of years. It is not logical to issue judgments on the old
generations according to circumstances which they did not live or participate
or establish. Moreover, such criticizers did not compare the marriage
of the Prophet Peace be upon him and Aisha May Allah be pleased with
her with the realty & customs of several Western and Christian countries
after hundreds of years and did not compare it with the marriage in the
Jewish religion which allowed the marriage of a child when she attain three
years and one day only. Therefore, this demonstrates the incredibility of
such criticizers and discharges the Prophet Peace be upon him from their
fabricated allegations and falsifications.
It is worth mentioning here also that several prophets Peace be upon them
were very old and married young virgin girls. The Bible mentioned that
Dawood (David) Peace be upon him - was old and caught cold and was
not able to warm himself in spite of wearing heavy clothes. Kings1, the first
chapter, stated:
«When King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep
25
warm even when they put covers over him. So his servants said to him, Let
us look for a young virgin to attend the king and take care of him. She can
lie beside him so that our lord the king may keep warm. Then they searched
throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found Abishag, a Shunammite,
and brought her to the king.
It is a very clear picture; Prophet Dawood (David) Peace be upon him - was
very old; however, they searched for him a virgin girl tens of years younger
than him in order to keep him warm. Such verses are speaking about sexual
meanings such as warming Prophet Dawood Peace be upon him using
a young beautiful virgin girl, as stated in the verses! So, why don›t such
people who instigate against Islam look at this issue and consider it rape?
Why don›t the Western media speak about such event the way they speak
about the marriage of the Prophet Peace be upon him and Aisha? The
reason is simple; the purpose of such criticism is not such marriage cases
or relationships; contrary, they are seeking to distort the picture of Islam
only, instigating against it and making people hate this religion and its followers!
But the truth will appear some day, and people will surely discover
the malicious goals and methods of such instigators.
