Aisha (R)'s marriage in Islam abuse or consent?
09/07/2019
Nowadays with the advancement of technology, it is easy for anyone to say anything they want and can make it famous because most of the people in the world do not have the intellectual capacity to check whether such stories are true or not. Most people in the world are living their lives filled with less intellectualism and more stupidity in their heads and brainwashing is now a billion dollar business strategy because the masses are asses. The story of the noble wife Aisha(Rali)'s marriage to prophet Muhammad (Sal) has been used to insult Islam and Muslims in a way as to mean that Muslims are child abusers. There is no evidence whatsoever to prove that the prophet (Sal) forced Aisha(Rali) to marry him or that she was abused.
AISHA (RALI) MARRIED PROPHET(SAL) WHEN SHE WAS 6 YEARS OLD.
Narrated Aisha (Rali):
"The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um 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, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became Alright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age.
(Sahih -Al-Bukhari)
‘Urwah said: "Khadeejah died three years before the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) migrated to Madeenah. He stayed alone for two years or thereabouts, then he married ‘Aa’ishah when she was six years old, and consummated the marriage when she was nine years old."
(Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3607)
‘Aisha (Rali) said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married her when she was six years old and consummated the marriage when she was nine years old, and she stayed with him for nine years." (Bukhaari)
The above hadiths prove clearly that the marriage was arranged when Aisha (Rali) was 6 and it was consummated when she was 9 years old. Now, another argument is put forward by the critics of Islam and they quote the below verse in the Quran.
"And for those who have no courses (periods) their ‘iddah is three months likewise, except in case of death] "
(Al Quran- 65:4)
Using this verse they erroneously argue that Islam allows child abuse. The above verse refers to the waiting period of a woman who divorces after marriage and this is what is meant in the verse "And for those who have no courses (periods) their ‘iddah is three months". This verse has nothing to do with child abuse. Aisha (Rali) herself narrated that she had attained maturity when she married the prophet(Sal).Aisha (Rali) narrated,
"I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of reason [i.e., puberty]. Not a day passed, but the Prophet (Sal) visited us, both in the mornings and evenings "
(Sahih-Al-Bukhari)
All the hadiths and stories of Aisha(Rali) living with the prophet(Sal) was a happy affair. If Aisha(Rali) was forced or abused then she would have not been so happy with the prophet (Sal). This is the important point many ignorant critics of Islam have failed to understand. Aisha(Rali) went over to become a scholar in Islam and also an expert in medicine. How come a person become so knowledgeful and intellectual if they had been inflicted with abuse? The prophet(Sal) forbade marrying a girl or woman with out their consent. He said,
"A previously-married woman should not be married until she has been consulted, and a virgin should not be married until her permission has been sought.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is her permission?” He said: “If she remains silent.”
(Bukhari and Muslim)
The false argument that Aisha(Rali) married when she was 19.
The argument of Aisha (rali) marrying the prophet(sal)when she was 19 years old is an orientalist argument and has no basis in the Quran and the sunnah. The only evidence that they have is a wrong mathematical calculation. This is a weak argument as Aisha(rali) was 18 years when the prophet(sal) died. Islam is not based on mathematics and logic it is based on the Quran and authentic sunnah.
Some even quote Ibn Katheer as saying, in al-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah, concerning the earliest Muslims: “Among the woman were Asma’ bint Abi Bakr and ‘Aa’ishah, when she was small; these people became Muslims within three years.” and there is no mentioning of such a statement in al-Bidaayah wa’n-Nihaayah. Rather Ibn Katheer said in 3/25: "The first free man to believe was Abu Bakr as-Siddeeq; the first child was ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib; and the first woman was Khadeejah bint Khuwaylid". He did not mention either Asma’ or ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with them both).
WAS ASMA(RALI) TEN YEARS OLDER THAN AISHA(RALI)?
The other argument is that, Asma, the elder sister of Ayesha was 10 years older than Ayesha. If Asma was 100 years old in 73 AH, she should have been 27 or 28 years old at the time of the hijrah.If Asma was 27 or 28 years old at the time of hijrah, Ayesha should have been 17 or 18 years old. Thus, Ayesha, being 17 or 18 years of at the time of Hijra, she started to cohabit with the Prophet between at either 19 to 20 years of age.
That is not the case. Adh-Dhahabi said : Asma’ was more than ten years older than ‘Aa’ishah.”
(Siyar A‘laam an-Nubala’ (3/522) )
The Arabic phrase translated here as “more than ten” may refer to any number between thirteen and twenty.
THE NARRATION OF HISHAM IBN URWAH.
Some try to say that only Hisham Ibn Urwah narrated this hadith and an Ahad (hadith narrated by one person) cannot be excepted. This argument is a false argument which came with the emergence of the Muhtazila sect.
There is ample evidence to prove that you can accept even one narration if it is reliable.
Example:
Malik ibn Al-Huwairith said: "We, some young men of the same age, came to the Prophet and stayed with him for about twenty days. The Messenger of Allah was merciful and kind. When he thought that we missed our families and felt homesick, he asked us about whoever we left behind (their families), and we told him. He said: 'Go back to your families, stay with them, teach and order them (to do good) and pray as you saw me pray.'"(Saheeh Al bukhari)
The prophet (Sal) ordered each one of these young men to teach his family. Teaching contains matters of belief. The first of what is contained in the meaning of teaching must be about 'Aqeedah. If Ahad narration was not accepted, then this order of the Prophet would have been empty of any meaning.
The other argument is they try to reject these hadiths by stating that the origins of the report of the narratives of this event are from the people of Iraq, where Hisham is reported to have shifted after living in Medina for most of his life. This argument is based on a presumption and there is no evidence to prove that Hisham reported all these hadiths from the people of Iraq. Nothing can be proved by assuming on certain events that might have taken place.
‘Aisha (rali) was born approximately four years after the Prophet’s mission began.
Ibn kathir mention all the sources, and he said that Asma’(rali) – was more than ten years older than ‘Aisha (rali)
In Islam, what matters is consent and if both the couple consent, then it is no ones issue to make an issue with it. According to Islam, puberty is the point of responsibility and even modern day science has found that a person who attains puberty can procreate which means that he or she are sexually mature. The "Children and youth history website (http://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/primary-sources/24) mentions the age of consent in some countries and U.S states. the table is as follows. (Please click the desktop version of the website in the bottom in your mobile or tablet if the table is not clear)
In Japan, the age of sexual consent is 13 years and in Nigeria it is 11. It should be noted that the age of consent in westernized Christians countries like Philippines is just 12. Japan and the Philippines are westernized and even in such a scenario the age of consent is very low. Arguing that the age of consent should be above 18 years is a wrong argument and actually violates the right of the person to marry the age he or he wishes. It is so hypocritical to see that many western countries condemn a mature adult marrying a young girl of 10 or 11 but this same western culture will support the sexual relationship between two 7th grade classmates in school stating that it is normal. the age of consent is a relative thing and you cannot force fit an opinion. If western culture is so free and liberal then they should allow a person who has attained puberty to marry who ever they want irrespective of any age without a barrier. The question is , if the western culture can accept LGBT as normal (Which is not), then why can't they accept the marriage of a young person to an old person? Some might argue that a 12 year old for an example does not have the ability to consent to an adult. This argument has no scientific basis and It is proven scientifically that children can consent to more complex matters like psychotherapy. The research was published in the journal of clinical psychology(Volume 13, 1984 - Issue 2) stating that 75% of the participants consented to direct treatment.. There are many more research evidence to prove that children are competent enough to give consent. Islam forbids child abuse and a person is eligible for consummating a marriage after puberty. According to the western liberal argument, if a 11 year old is unable to consent , then he/she wouldn't be having relationships with a fellow class mate of the same age as evident among children in schools in the U.S and Europe. It is wrong for others to judge when or how and most importantly at what age an individual should marry. It is the right of that individual to decide at what age he/she should marry.
The issue of prophet (Sal) marrying 9 year old Aisha(Rali) at the age of 53 was not even an issue among the people back then because most people married very young. This custom was common in all parts of the world. Theodora Comnena was 13 years old when she married king Baldwin the 3rd , Richard the ii married Isabella of Valois who was just six years old at the time of marrying him. There are many more examples on how monarchs married young. Siddhartha was 16 when he married Yashodara who was also the same age and Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism married Mata Sulakhani when she was 14 years old. It was a norm to get married young and non of the Pagan Arabs during the time of the prophet (Sal) made an issue of him marrying Aisha (Rali) because marrying young was a norm back then. It was in the start of the 21st century when orientalists started arguing t finding fault of Aisha (Rali) marrying prophet(Sal) and to this day this false argument which has no logical or scientific basis is been used to insult Islam and the Muslims.
The issue of prophet (Sal) marrying 9 year old Aisha(Rali) at the age of 53 was not even an issue among the people back then because most people married very young. This custom was common in all parts of the world. Theodora Comnena was 13 years old when she married king Baldwin the 3rd , Richard the ii married Isabella of Valois who was just six years old at the time of marrying him. There are many more examples on how monarchs married young. Siddhartha was 16 when he married Yashodara who was also the same age and Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism married Mata Sulakhani when she was 14 years old. It was a norm to get married young and non of the Pagan Arabs during the time of the prophet (Sal) made an issue of him marrying Aisha (Rali) because marrying young was a norm back then. It was in the start of the 21st century when orientalists started arguing t finding fault of Aisha (Rali) marrying prophet(Sal) and to this day this false argument which has no logical or scientific basis is been used to insult Islam and the Muslims.