Did Muhammad marry Aisha when she was only six years old?
Contemporary critics have repeatedly claimed that Prophet Muhammad married Aisha when she was not of age. Facts indicate that Aisha was no younger than 12-13 at the time of her willing marriage with parental consent. We invite the reader to consider several factors before formulating a final opinion.
Before we delve into Islamic history, consider that the age deemed acceptable for marriage is not an objective standard across time, culture, and religionbut a subjective standard based on social construct. For example, the Catholic Encyclopaedia reports regarding Mary, mother of Jesus:
the priests announced through Judea that they wished to find in Juda a respectable man to espouse Mary, then twelve to fourteen years of age. Joseph, who was at the time ninety years old, went up to Jerusalem among the candidates; a miracle manifested the choice of God had made of Joseph, and two years later the Annunciation took place.[1]
Likewise, the Talmud states, Marrying off ones daughter as soon after she reaches adulthood as possible, even to ones Slave.[2] In fact, the Talmud presents some shocking guidance on marriage, also stating, A maiden aged three years and a day may be acquired in marriage by coition, and if her deceased husbands brother cohabits with her, she becomes his.[3] So while the Catholic Encyclopaedia tells us that Mary and Joseph were married at the ages of 12-14 and 90, respectively, the Talmud permits marrying girls as young as three years and one day. Lest this seem like an attack on Christianity and Judaismwhich it is notwe present marriage laws in the West.
For centuries in Scotland, the age of consent for girls was 12and parental consent was unnecessary.[4] Only in 1929 was the age raised to 16 for girls.[5] But in America even today, Aishas consenting marriage to Prophet Muhammad would be considered valid. For example, in New Hampshire, the legal age for girls is 13 with parental consent.[6] In Massachusetts, the legal age for girls is 12 with parental consent.[7] In Mississippi, there is no age minimum for girls, as long as there is parental consent.[8] In California, there is no age minimum for girls, as long as there is parental consent.[9]