10-12-2005, 08:52 AM
Bismillah
Praise be to Allah Creator of the Creation and Maintainer of the Universe and prayer and peace be upon His Messenger Mohamed Ibn Abdullah, his household and companions.
Salam all
Building on Rock's post, I like to add my humble input. In no way I m trying to apologize for the marriage of Prophet Mohamed salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam and Aisha under the many hadeeth that proves she was nine.
To start with, let us realize who are we talking about in terms of marriage. He is the Messenger of Allah, the final Messenger who was sent to all mankind and Jin in order to establish a permanent foundation till the day after. Having said that, among other things, the marriages of Mohamed salla Allah a`lyhee was sallam were all made for a purpose in a way or the other. He married Khadija, for instance even before he received the message, who was about 14 years older than him. BTW I read in various sources that the age difference was less than that. Remember at that time, there were no ID cards or birth registries.
At that time, he needed a wise and strong woman who can walk with him through the rough road of Dawa. I will not go through the rest of the marriages and their purposes. But just wanted to give an example.
Now when it comes to Aisha and the position she attained in terms of knowledge as Universist noted, she is the one who memorized and narrated like half of the hadeeth, she is the one about whom the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam told the Muslims to take half of their Deen from her in reference to knowledge. Having said that, on another situation Ali Ibn Abi Taleb, the Messenger's cousin whose father took good care of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam during his childhood. I mean he was raised in his house between his children. But he was not a man of wealth, so when the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam got married he took Ali to raise him up in his house in gratitude to this uncle in order to mitigate some of his financial burden. Now that was only a reason for Ali to be raised in the house of the Prophet, receive first hand knowledge at a very young age that allowed him the benefit of good memorization and later on to attain an outstanding position in terms of knowledge as indicated in many situations, but this is not our core of interest here. I m just trying to bring similar examples in order to highlight Allah's purpose.
Thus, under such circumstances, look at Aisha's position, let us take the hadeeth Seraphim posted, which are all authentic and valid reported by Bukhari. She was advantaged enough to join the house of the Prophet salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam at a young age when her memory is quite fresh and capable of momorization. As much as each one of us has a role in this life, usually set by Allah, her role was determined by Allah to become a scholar to this Ummah may Allah reward her much. Being a wife, gave her the chance to learn and teach very intimate matters to both men and women. It allowed her a chance to follow up the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam in various crucial situations that till this day we need to ponder on and copy may Allah reward her much.
Later on, she taught men their Deen, there was no harm in this. She attained such an exceptional position in terms of knowledge. Not only that she joined the house of the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam at a young age, but also she was infertile and had no children. Mind you she was the only virgin whom the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam marry. Otherwise, the others were either widows or divorcees with children. Except for Maria who gave him Ibraheem as well. But Aisha had to have this ample time without children in order to master the invaluable knowledge she is receiving and later on assume the responsibility of passing it on.
Thus if she was nine at the time of marriage, yet fully matured, we as Muslims should feel no shame about it and try to apologize. Not that I don’t take the article Dan posted in consideration, but I am talking from the stand that people are coming to us saying O Mohamed married a 9 year old.
I can for example quote other incidents in history when older men married young girls. But even this approach I wouldn’t go for.
Alhamdulelah all good is from Allah and what is wrong is from myself and shaytan