Did the Prophet (ﷺ) consummate the marriage with A'isha when she was a child?🧵:
The claim that he had sexual intercourse when she was a child is false. A'isha had reached puberty before he (ﷺ) consummated it and there are reports confirming this.
She informs us that she had attained the age of puberty since her parents started to follow Islam...
She informs us that she had attained the age of puberty since her parents started to follow Islam...
And in another report with a difference of wording while the same Arabic (اعقل) word is used. [image 2 from above]
Professor Hans Wehr comments on the word "اعقل":
“… a’qal more reasonable; brighter, smarter, more intelligent
Professor Hans Wehr comments on the word "اعقل":
“… a’qal more reasonable; brighter, smarter, more intelligent
| … a’qal al’umr the most reasonable time of life, the years of reason and MATURITY.”
Reading these two reports we see A'isha had seen her parents following Islam since she attained age of puberty and in the second, she was mentally mature.
Reading these two reports we see A'isha had seen her parents following Islam since she attained age of puberty and in the second, she was mentally mature.
These show that A'isha had reached puberty and had mentally matured to discern things while living with her parents before the marriage was consummated.
This eliminates the idea that A'isha was a 'child' when the marriage was consummated.
This eliminates the idea that A'isha was a 'child' when the marriage was consummated.
Science also attests to this.
"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"
"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"
[Sahih al-Bukhari 3894]
Now pay attention, this is important. We read that she got ill and her hair fell off and it grew back later, this is known as alopecia.
Now pay attention, this is important. We read that she got ill and her hair fell off and it grew back later, this is known as alopecia.
Shannon Harrison, Melissa Piliang and Wilma explain why, when hair disorders occur:"..Androgenetic alopecia OCCURS WITH THE ONSET OF PUBERTY and in males is dependent on circulating androgens. FEMALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS (female androgenetic alopecia) ALSO STARTS AFTER PUBERTY…”
Now, it is clear she wasn't a child but had reached puberty and was physically and mentally ready before the marriage was consummated.
John Bancroft in his book, "Human Sexuality and Its Problems", mentions those from Mediterranean countries reach puberty at an early age.
John Bancroft in his book, "Human Sexuality and Its Problems", mentions those from Mediterranean countries reach puberty at an early age.
John Bancroft says:
"..In general, young people who come from Mediterranean countries, or countries relatively close to the Equator, tend to have earlier age at puberty than those from more Northern or Southern societies.”
"..In general, young people who come from Mediterranean countries, or countries relatively close to the Equator, tend to have earlier age at puberty than those from more Northern or Southern societies.”
This marriage wasn't rare during that time as explained by Colin turner, "A marriage between an older man and a young girl was customary among the Bedouins,
..particularly if the union was of direct political significance to the families concerned.. marriages were almost certainly not consummated until both parties had entered adulthood, which Arabs in the 7th century tended to reach at an earlier age than Westerners today." [Pg 34]
A scholar had said this about her (A'isha).
Imām Dawudi said: "She was very well matured."
Imām Dawudi said: "She was very well matured."
A'isha was ALREADY ENGAGED to Jubayr Ibn Mut’im Ibn Adi and this marriage was SUGGESTED by Khawlah.
"Khawla, daughter of Hakim, the wife of Uthman b. Maz’un, came and said, ‘O Messenger of God, wouldn’t you like to get married?’.."
"Khawla, daughter of Hakim, the wife of Uthman b. Maz’un, came and said, ‘O Messenger of God, wouldn’t you like to get married?’.."
We gather that A'isha was already engaged, which informs us this marriage was not uncommon. We also see this was encouraged by Khawlah.
Also mentioned on page 96 of the same book.
Also mentioned on page 96 of the same book.
One can't compare childhood and maturity of today to the past as mentioned Professor Mary Lewis.
"No matter what period we are examining, childhood is more than a biological age...What is clear is that we cannot simply transpose our view of childhood directly onto the past."
"No matter what period we are examining, childhood is more than a biological age...What is clear is that we cannot simply transpose our view of childhood directly onto the past."
'A'isha reported that "Allāh's Messenger (ﷺ) never beat anyone with his hand, neither a woman nor a servant.."
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ "مَا ضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا قَطُّ بِيَدِهِ وَلاَ امْرَأَةً وَلاَ خَادِمًا"
[Sahih Muslim 2328]
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ "مَا ضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَيْئًا قَطُّ بِيَدِهِ وَلاَ امْرَأَةً وَلاَ خَادِمًا"
[Sahih Muslim 2328]
All of this easily refutes the arguments that she was a child when the marriage was consummated, that she was 'raped', and women never (in the past) reached puberty at an early age.
Secondly, he, ﷺ, married her to strengthen the relationship with Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) and to eliminate a custom during that time.
We also see he married many older women.
We also see he married many older women.
To reiterate the point, A'isha was not a child but rather she had reached puberty and was mentally/physically ready before the marriage was consummated as shown with all the evidence. She was never 'raped' and this marriage wasn't uncommon during this time.
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