The Marriage of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
Thank you for bringing up this important topic. Let me clarify some points that may help in understanding the historical and religious context, as well as the general Islamic stance on contemporary issues related to this matter:
The Historical Context of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) Marriage to Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
The marriage of the Prophet (peace be upon him) to Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) took place in a social and cultural context that was entirely different from our modern era. At that time, early marriage practices were common in many civilizations, including the Roman, Persian, and Jewish societies, and were not limited to the Arab community. There is also disagreement among historians regarding the age of Lady Aisha at the time of marriage. Some sources suggest she was in her teenage years (around 12-14 years old) based on chronological calculations of the time of the Hijra (migration) and other events.
More importantly, Islam came to correct the wrong practices of pre-Islamic society, including the sexual and social exploitation of women, and established strict guidelines for marriage to protect the rights of both parties, such as full consent, justice, and the ability to bear responsibilities.
The Difference Between Islamic Legislation and Human Practices
Islam, as a religion, sets general principles that protect human dignity, and their applications evolve according to changing circumstances and interests. For this reason, many Islamic countries legally prohibit child marriage because they understand that the best interests of girls in the modern era require delaying marriage until they have achieved physical, psychological, and educational maturity.
Islam’s Stance on Coercion .
It is important to emphasize that Islam prohibits any form of coercion or exploitation in marriage and requires the full consent of both parties, as well as "competence" (the ability to bear the responsibilities of marriage). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: «A previously married woman should not be married until she is consulted, and a virgin should not be married until her permission is sought» (Sahih al-Bukhari).
The Prophet (peace be upon him) was not the first to propose to her; she was previously engaged to Jubayr ibn Mut'im, which indicates her maturity and readiness for marriage at that time.
The Age of Puberty and Its Variations
The age of puberty for women varies according to ethnicity and climate. Islamic jurists stipulate that a girl must reach puberty (marked by menstruation) and have the physical and psychological ability to bear the responsibilities of marriage, known as "rushd" (maturity). Medically, puberty occurs earlier in hot climates than in cold ones. In hot regions, girls may reach puberty as early as 8 or 9 years old, while in colder regions, it may be delayed until the age of 21.
Dr. Dushnee, an American physician, states: "Data from the World Health Organization (2023) shows that the rate of early puberty (before 8 years) has increased among girls in hot countries by 15% compared to temperate regions, due to factors such as nutrition and genetics. This reinforces the scientific understanding of the context of Lady Aisha's marriage."
She adds, "In some regions of America, white girls may begin puberty at the age of 7 or 8, while African-American girls may start as early as 6. It is also medically established that the first menstruation, known as menarche, occurs between the ages of 9 and 15."
Aisha’s Account
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: «The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) married her when she was six years old, and consummated the marriage when she was nine, and he passed away when she was eighteen.» So why did he wait for three full years?
This waiting period indicates the Prophet’s care and consideration for her physical and emotional readiness, reflecting the principles of justice and responsibility in Islamic teachings.
This is evidence that he never consummated the marriage or had sexual relations with her, and she was neither capable nor qualified for it.
The Prophet himself was keen on protecting the rights of the vulnerable and said: «Indeed, Allah will punish those who torment people in this world» (Narrated by Muslim).
The Quraysh disbelievers, despite their intense hostility toward the Prophet, never used this marriage to attack him. Instead, they criticized other matters, such as his call to monotheism, which confirms their social acceptance of this marriage. They were the ones who opposed him and sought to destroy him, diverting people from joining his call and attempting to tarnish his reputation.
The marriage of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, was a lawful marriage according to the social and religious customs and traditions prevalent at that time.
Age and Puberty: At that time, social norms were different from what we know today. Marriage at a young age was common in both Arab and non-Arab societies during that period. Lady Aisha had reached the age of puberty before the marriage, which is a fundamental condition in Islam for the validity of marriage.
Scholars and historians have unanimously agreed on the legality of this marriage, and it was not a subject of doubt or controversy in his era or in subsequent periods.
A question is raised about why Islam is singled out for criticism, even though the Gospel mentions the marriage of young girls.
The Catholic Christian Encyclopedia states that the Virgin Mary was betrothed to Joseph the Carpenter when she was 12 years old, and Joseph was 90 years old, meaning the age difference between them was more than 78 years.
It is said in the Gospel of Matthew: "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ" (Matthew 1:16).
Meanwhile, the Quran completely rejects this lineage and establishes Jesus as a descendant of the pure Mary directly, without mentioning any father.
There are verses in the Quran that explicitly declare the innocence of Mary and her son from any suspicion of adultery.
The Gospel also contains many stories of marriages involving young girls, such as the marriage of Ahaz, who was 10 years old and fathered a child at the age of 11, as mentioned in 2 Kings (16:2).
Moreover, there is not a single statement in the Gospel that prohibits the marriage of girls at the age of nine, nor is there even a single sentence that specifies a minimum age for marriage.
Why does the Bible attribute adultery to holy people?
In the Gospel, there are slanders and defamation against the prophets, fabricating inappropriate actions for them, accusing them of committing immoral acts and abominations, including incestuous adultery.
The adultery of the prophet Lot with his eldest daughter first, and then with his younger daughter after he drank wine, is mentioned in Genesis 19.
The story of the prophet David is distorted. How can it be accepted that the prophet David committed adultery?
In 2 Samuel 11, it is mentioned that the prophet David committed adultery with the wife of his commander (Uriah the Hittite) and caused the death of her husband.
In 2 Samuel (13:1-21), it is mentioned that David's son committed adultery with his sister.
How does God praise Solomon, saying, "I will be his father, and he will be my son" (1 Samuel 7:14, 15), even though he was the result of David's adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
Christian texts mention that some of the ancestors of Christ have controversial biographies.
The Gospels claim that the lineage of Christ includes individuals described as adulterers and immoral (such as Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba), which contradicts the Islamic belief in the infallibility of the prophets and their mothers.
The Gospels
(Matthew 1:3-6) mention that the genealogy of Christ includes :
- Tamar, who committed adultery with her father-in-law Judah (Genesis 38:14-26),
- Rahab, who was labeled as a harlot (Joshua 2:1; Joshua 6:25; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25),
- Ruth the Moabite (Ruth 1:4),
- And Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, who committed adultery with the prophet David
- (2 Samuel 11:3, 4),
as the Gospel tells us.
The Gospel says to those who commit this sin: "If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed a perversion; their blood is upon them" (Leviticus 20:12).
The law prohibits adulterers, Ammonites, and Moabites from entering the assembly of the Lord. "Even to the tenth generation, none of their descendants shall be admitted to the assembly of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 23:3).
This means that Perez and his descendants are excluded from the assembly of the Lord, expelled from His mercy, according to what the Bible says.
Can it be that Christ (peace be upon him) is the one who uttered these words and presented his lineage to people in this manner?
God Almighty informs us in the Holy Quran of the innocence of Lady Mary and her son Jesus (peace be upon them) from any suspicion:
" 33) Indeed, Allah chose Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of 'Imran over the worlds – 34) Descendants, some of them from others. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing. " (The Holy Quran Al Imran 3: 33).
And the words of God Almighty:
" 91) And [mention] the one who guarded her chastity [i.e., Mary], so We blew into her [garment] through Our angel [i.e., Gabriel], and We made her and her son a sign for the worlds. "
(The Holy Quran Al-Anbiya 21:91).
The family of 'Imran includes 'Imran, his wife, and their descendants Mary and her son Jesus.
Therefore, historical respect must be given to the character of the Prophet (peace be upon him), who changed the world towards justice and humanity.
Islam is a religion that respects reason and justice, and we must not allow anyone to misuse religious texts out of context to justify injustice. Thank you again for raising this important discussion.
And remember that Islam calls for understanding texts with awareness, as God Almighty said:
" 15) O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book [i.e., the Qur'an]. 16) By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path. "
(The Holy Quran Al-Ma'idah 5:15-16).
And the words of God Almighty in the Holy Quran:
". 13) O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted. "
(The Holy Quran Al-Hujurat 49:13).
