Muhammad and Aisha

[Seraphim]

Faced with the arguments of Western critics, one Muslim apologist has pieced together information from various accounts in an attempt to deny that Aisha was as young as critics often claim:


<i>The popular misconception as to Aishah’s age may be removed here. . . . Isabah, speaking of the Holy Prophet’s daughter Fatimah, says that she was about five years older than Aishah. It is a well-established fact that Fatimah was born when the Ka’bah was being rebuilt, i.e., five years before the Call. Aishah was therefore born in the year of the Call or a little before it, and she could not have been less than ten years at the time of her marriage with the Holy Prophet in the tenth year of the Call. . . . And as the period between her marriage and its consummation was not less than five years, because the consummation took place in the second year of the Flight, it follows that she could not have been less than fifteen at that time. The popular account that she was six years at marriage and nine years at the time of consummation is decidedly not correct because it supposes the period between the marriage and its consummation to be only three years, and this is historically wrong.[1] </i>


The problem with this selective and carefully edited response (other than the complete lack of references) is that it ignores the numerous accounts we now possess which record Aisha’s age when Muhammad consummated his marriage to her. Many of these accounts are from Aisha herself. Indeed, the evidence for Muhammad’s marriage to the young Aisha is as strong as the evidence for just about any other fact in Islam. We have copious traditions relating Muhammad’s marriage proposal when Aisha was six or seven years old, as well as his consummation of that marriage when she was nine:


<i>Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (may the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) married her when she was six years old, and he consummated her in marriage when she was nine years old. Then she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).[2] </i>


Khadijah died three years before the Prophet (The blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) departed to Madina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consummated that marriage when she was nine years old.[3]


Urwa narrated: The Prophet (may the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) wrote the (marriage contract) with Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years.[4]


Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old.[5]


Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and she was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.[6]


This is just a sample of the early Muslim traditions reporting Muhammad’s marriage to the young Aisha, but it is sufficient to show that she certainly wasn’t fifteen years old at the time of the consummation, as Maulana Ali claims.


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I mean obviously Muslims are going to say that Muhammad did not marry a six year old girl, its a bias. Its the same thing for christian fundamentalists, they also have a bias. I personally dont know what the truth is but of course have heard and read many opinions.


I personally dont think a girl that plays with her dolls with her friends can be much older than 9 or 10.


The Hadith offers a certain amount of support for this view:


<i>"Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet (may the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him), and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah’s Apostle (may the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet (may the blessing and peace of Allah be upon him) would call them to join and play with me.[14] "</i>


If anyone requires a link to my soures. Please ask.


Sincerly,


SERAPHIM

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Peace Seraphim


No u dont need to provid source, and we appreciate you staying on topic.


Other posts which were irrelevant were deleted.

[Rock]

Bismilah


When we talk about Aisha and Muhammad marriage,we must take the time factor into consideration,the question must be is this marriage was against the traditions of that time or not.I will mention two simple facts to show that this marriage was common at that time.


*Aisha was engaged to Gubeer Ibn Mutam Ibn Oday before her engagement to Muhammad(pbuh)and this engagement was ended because Gubeer parents were afraid from Gubeer embracing Islam after his marriage from Aisha.


*Muhammad(pbuh)asked Abu Baker to marry him his daughter Aisha according to Kaula Bint Hakeem suggestion.


This means that this marriage is something normal at that time,and this will let us understand the acceptance of her parents.


If this marriage was offending Aisha,how we can understand her great love to Muhammad as a man not only as Allah messenger,Aisha did`nt hide her love to Muhammad or resist the natural jealousy of the woman when she loves her husband.


One of the western writer E.V.R bodlye mentioned in his book"The messenger"that those who attack this marriage did`nt know that this was an Asian tradition and it was still in east EUrope,Espain,Portugal,and in some mountains areas in US till a few years ago.


I think he wrote his book at the begining of the last century(the20th)

[Seraphim]

I see where your coming from and basically you answered my question. I mean most people informed me that Aisha was rather young and thats all i wanted to know. I understand the times were differnt and maybe there were differnt customs which justified this marriage. I am satified with that conclusion until whenever, if ever, i come across a credible aritcle that disproves it.


With Thanks,


Seraphim

[Muslimah]

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

[Dan]

Bismillah


As Salam alaikum


One of the reasons for posting the article was to clearly show everyone that just going about on websites does not a master of Islamic knowledge make. Nor does reading books by nonmuslims or what are being called "reform muslims" or whatever. There is such a wealth and body of information that constitutes Islam. Scholars study for lifetimes to TRY to master just one aspect. Yet, nowadays many nonmuslims jump on the board and want to argue or "discuss" how young a wife of the Prophet was, jihad, slavery, polygamy, and whatever part of Islam that have come upon with which they don't agree.


Our religion is based upon Tawheed. If one does not understand or believe in this concept then understanding in the others will rarely follow, even for fellow muslims.


As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

[Universist]

Bismillah
As Salam alaikum


One of the reasons for posting the article was to clearly show everyone that just going about on websites does not a master of Islamic knowledge make.  Nor does reading books by nonmuslims or what are being called "reform muslims" or whatever.  There is such a wealth and body of information that constitutes Islam.  Scholars study for lifetimes to TRY to master just one aspect.  Yet, nowadays many nonmuslims jump on the board and want to argue or "discuss" how young a wife of the Prophet was, jihad, slavery, polygamy, and whatever part of Islam that have come upon with which they don't agree.


Our religion is based upon Tawheed.  If one does not understand or believe in this concept then understanding in the others will rarely follow, even for fellow muslims.


As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu

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Two things.


1. Does it strike you odd that a book brought to us by God would be so incomprehensible that a lifetime of study would not provide clarity in even a single aspect?


2. For the non-muslims who are looking for a resource on Tawheed I strongly recommend this section of the University of Southern California's website on Islamic studies. Judge the quality of this content for yourself. I think you will find as I have that this source is unbiased.


http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/t...w/abutaw_1.html


Universist

[Seraphim]

Dan, may the blessings of God be with you, you must understand most nonmuslims have never been really introduced into the whole muslim world as you have. As a "nasrani", i do not have as much knowledge of Islam so I find out what I can and ask others questions to add to my knowledge. I mean as you said it may take more than a lifetime to understand Islam so why not speed up the process and ask questions of the board.


Sincerly,


Seraphim [img]style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif[/img]

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


Salam Seraphim


pls do ask questions and Insh a Allah as much as possible we will be able to reply.


I gave u a reply to sort of explaining how Allah's Wisdom in some cases go to determine situations that u might be astounded by. However, to continue on the same theme. For example, the only position Aisha would have been allowed this closeness with the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam if when she is a wife.


As I told u we are here in this life on a short term and each has a certain role. Best is to know this role and accept it. She was advantaged enough to know this role.


I fully agree 100% with Dan on the essence of Islam.


It is all about Tawheed: to believer in Allah The only One Allah Who Is Worthy to worship. From there you can then understand the rest.


Unless u r able to come to terms with this fact, then u r still not there.

[Universist]

Bismillah
Salam Seraphim


pls do ask questions and Insh a Allah as much as possible we will be able to reply.


I gave u a reply to sort of explaining how Allah's Wisdom in some cases go to determine situations that u might be astounded by. However, to continue on the same theme. For example, the only position Aisha would have been allowed this closeness with the Messenger salla Allah a`lyhee wa sallam if when she is a wife.


As I told u we are here in this life on a short term and each has a certain role. Best is to know this role and accept it. She was advantaged enough to know this role.


I fully agree 100% with Dan on the essence of Islam.


It is all about Tawheed: to believer in Allah The only One Allah Who Is Worthy to worship. From there you can then understand the rest.


Unless u r able to come to terms with this fact, then u r still not there.

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I believe Christians follow this same principle concerning the Bible. If you don't accept Jesus Christ as the son of God, and you do not allow him into your heart, then you cannot understand the writings of the Bible as a Christian would. All monotheistic religions build this wall between believers and non-believers.


This is known as the "Great Divide of Faith".


Universist