Why did the Prophet Mohammad (s) marry Aisha at a very young age?

[firedragon]

I was talking to Meandflower, not Link. I think that the Wikipedia thing involves people of a scholarly point of view, it appears, and to some extent those of a scholarly point of view are limited in their point of view in their own way. I didn't know how to do any better in this situation. I don't know the Hadith involved here or how reliable they are individually.

wikipedia is good, but is absolutely layman level. Extremely.

I have read in the Qur'an about Khidr, and Baha'u'llah has alluded to Khidr in a mystical way, so I do know what Link was referring to there.

If you read it, its in his sleep. Its a lesson.

all sorts of terms that only someone steeped in Shi'i Islam or Islam can understand

Not at all. It is against the Shii akeedha. And none of these are Shii terms.

It seems like this debate belongs more properly to Qur'an debates than Religious debates. I find him hard to follow. Perhaps it's partly not being used to used to expressing himself in English.

Yes. You are right in many ways.

 

[Starlight]

It's complicated according Wikipedia:

There was no official registration of births at the time that Aisha was born, so her date of birth, and therefore the date of marriage, cannot be stated with certainty.[25] Her age is not mentioned in the Qur'an. All discussions and debate about her age at marriage rely on, firstly, the various ahadith, which are regarded by most Muslims as records of the words and actions of Muhammad and as a source for religious law and moral guidance, second only to that of the Qur'an. Unlike the Qur'an, not all Muslims believe that all ahadith accounts are a divine revelation, and different collections of ahadith are given varied levels of respect by different branches of the Islamic faith.[26] Sunni, various branches of Shia (such as Ismaili and Twelver), Ibadi and Ahmadiyya Muslims all regard different sets of ahadith as "strong" or "weak" in the power of their evidence, depending on their perceived provenance.[27][28][29]

Aisha's age at the time of her marriage is frequently mentioned in Islamic literature.[16] According to John Esposito, Aisha was married to Muhammad in Mecca in 624 CE, after Hegira to Medina and the Battle of Badr.[30] Several scholars interpret this to indicate that she reached puberty at this age,[15][16][31][32] although her age at the time is the subject of dispute. Al-Tabari says she was nine at the time her marriage was consummated.[33] Sahih al-Bukhari's hadith says "that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old."[34] Other sources differ on the age of marriage, but agree that the marriage was not consummated at the time of the marriage contract.[35] All biographical information on Muhammad and his companions was first recorded over a century after his death,[36] but the ahadith[37] and sīra (traditional Islamic biographies of Muhammad) provide records of early Islam through an unbroken chain of transmission. Various ahadith stating that Aisha was either nine or ten at the time of her consummation come from collections with sahih status, meaning they are regarded as reputable by most Sunni Muslims.[34][38] Other traditional sources also mention Aisha's age. The sīra of Ibn Ishaq edited by Ibn Hisham states that she was nine or ten years old at the consummation.[39] The historian al-Tabari also states that she was nine.[40] Marriage at a young age was not unheard of at the time, and Aisha's marriage to Muhammad may have had a political connotation, as her father Abu Bakr was an influential man in the community.[41] Abu Bakr, on his part, may have sought to further the bond of kinship between Muhammad and himself by joining their families together in marriage via Aisha. Leila Ahmed notes that Aisha's betrothal and marriage to Muhammad are presented as ordinary in Islamic literature, and may indicate that it was not unusual for children to be married to their elders in that era.[42]

Aisha's age at marriage has been a source of controversy and debate, and some historians, scholars, and writers have revisited the previously-accepted timeline of her life.[43] Some writers have calculated Aisha's age based on details found in some biographies, eschewing the traditionally-accepted ahadith. One hadith recorded in the works of some medieval scholars, including al-Dhahabi,[44] states that Aisha's older sister Asma was ten years older than her. This has been combined with information about Asma's age at the time of her death and used to suggest that Aisha was over thirteen at the time of her marriage.[45] Gibril Haddad criticizes this approach as relying on a single narrator, and notes that a hadith from the same narrator gives a broader range for the age difference between the sisters.[46] Using reports on the birth year of Fatimah as a reference point, the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement scholar Muhammad Ali has estimated that Aisha was over ten years old at the time of marriage and over fifteen at the time of its consummation.[47]

Aisha - Wikipedia

For me, the key is that whatever her age was the end of the second paragraph where it is said: Marriage at a young age was not unheard of at the time, and Aisha's marriage to Muhammad may have had a political connotation, as her father Abu Bakr was an influential man in the community.[41] Abu Bakr, on his part, may have sought to further the bond of kinship between Muhammad and himself by joining their families together in marriage via Aisha. Leila Ahmed notes that Aisha's betrothal and marriage to Muhammad are presented as ordinary in Islamic literature, and may indicate that it was not unusual for children to be married to their elders in that era.

I would also add that in the rest of the article in Wikipedia they seemed to be happy together, so that would indicate to me that she didn't consider herself abused by the Prophet.

God is against child marriage (especially against to constumate a marriage with a little girl on only 9 years old). Do you know why?

It is because if a adult have sex with a 9 year old girl and the girl become pregnant then she may die in child Birth!! The risk of her dying in child Birth is very very high. Because a 9 year old child have not a body that is big enough and strong enough to give Birth!!

Prophet Muhammad never married a child. Those hadiths was fabricated by enemies of Islam and Prophet Muhammad because they wanted to attack the moral character of Prophet Muhammad.

God is against child marriage. And that is prophet Muhammad also.

 

[TagliatelliMonster]

The truth is it was a similar action as Khidr killing a child and a similar action as Yusuf framing his brothers. The wisdom was to try Abu Bakr who would become Gog after the uncle of the Prophet, and take that position of Abu Lahab. The reason can be seen in Surah Tahrim, where Aisha chooses to side with the Prophet after he informs that he is aware of their plans, and she wondered who informed him of it and realized it can be only God as no one would have spilled the information from those planning against the Prophet (S) . This was a way to show the Prophet was constantly aware of Gog and Magog and aware of the Abu Lahab of the time even if that person claims to be Muslim and believer. In chapter 4 of Quran, it alludes that the person Satan has chosen to be Qareen of had spent much money but to show off and that God would have accepted the action if they believed in God and Last day and did out of pure intention. But it was to show off, and contend the Ulil-Amr from this nation.

I can't make heads or tails from this word salad.

 

[Link]

I can't make heads or tails from this word salad.

It's okay I retracted it. I'm not sure if Mohammad (s) did an action against morality and Shariah like Khidr (a) killing a child by God's command and permission - because of hidden reason which I tried to explain could be it with exposing hypocrites and Gog and Magog and for Surah Tahrim to be revealed before Ali (a) faces those people - like Khidr (a) did actions for secret reasons only God and him knew at that time or that Aisha was simply a lot older.

There is kind of proof that he had to do something like Khidr (a) because Quran per it's own verses, says all stories of Messengers somehow relate to Mohammad (s) by analogy of something in his footseps.

So to me, I see that as circumstantial evidence, that he did marry Aisha when she was a kid, but it's not definitive proof so at the end I don't know. It maybe she was a lot older. I don't know.

 

[Starlight]

It's okay I retracted it. I'm not sure if Mohammad (s) did an action against morality and Shariah like Khidr (a) killing a child by God's command and permission - because of hidden reason which I tried to explain could be it with exposing hypocrites and Gog and Magog and for Surah Tahrim to be revealed before Ali (a) faces those people - like Khidr (a) did actions for secret reasons only God and him knew at that time or that Aisha was simply a lot older.

There is kind of proof that he had to do something like Khidr (a) because Quran per it's own verses, says all stories of Messengers somehow relate to Mohammad (s) by analogy of something in his footseps.

So to me, I see that as circumstantial evidence, that he did marry Aisha when she was a kid, but it's not definitive proof so at the end I don't know. It maybe she was a lot older. I don't know.

The big problem is that some muslims believe it is ok to marry a child since they believe prophet Muhammad did It.

So child marriage happens today in Muslim countries because they believe Muhammad did It.

But no, prophet Muhammad never married a child. The hadiths about that is fabricated. The Quran is against childmarriage, God is against childmarriage and prophet Muhammad is against childmarriage

 

[Link]

The big problem is that some muslims believe it is ok to marry a child since prophet Muhammad did It.

So child marriage happens today in Muslim countries because they believe Muhammad did It.

But no, prophet Muhammad never married a child. The hadiths about that is fabricated. The Quran is against childmarriage, God is against childmarriage and prophet Muhammad is against childmarriage

Khidr (a) killed a child, Quran forbids killing children. Mohammad (s) marrying a child while Quran forbids should make them ether (1) believe he did not do it (2) If he did it, it was similar to Khidr (a) actions.

I'm not sure they are fabricated, we have an authentic chain per ilmel rijaal standards (does not mean much to me, but sometimes short chains with highly reputable people have a lot of weight to me especially when these narrators are very famous) going back to Zaid saying she was a child. Zaid is not an Imam but chances are he doesn't speak without knowledge and his teachings in line with is father (who is an Imam).

 

[Starlight]

Khidr (a) killed a child, Quran forbids killing children. Mohammad (s) marrying a child while Quran forbids should make them ether (1) believe he did not do it (2) If he did it, it was similar to Khidr (a) actions.

The problem is that child marriage happens to many girls because some muslims believe prophet Muhammad married a child. Many young Girls have died in child birth because their body is not big enough.. what do you think about this?

 

[Link]

The problem is that child marriage happens to many girls because some muslims believe prophet Muhammad married a child. Many young Girls have died in child birth because their body is not big enough.. what do you think about this?

I already explained that Quran forbid it. We don't go killing children out of fear they will leave Islam and die apostates like Khidr (a) do we?

 

[Link]

And we done worse then this @Meandflower , Muslims conquered lands including Christians unjustly and took them as slaves especially their women and children. What is worse is how today Quran is still translated to justify slavery with no resolve to be ashamed to what we know is morally evil in today's time all to follow our forefathers without swerving from their great ones and leaders they chose with no proof from God.

 

[Leahpolitan_icecream]

The truth is it was a similar action as Khidr killing a child and a similar action as Yusuf framing his brothers. The wisdom was to try Abu Bakr who would become Gog after the uncle of the Prophet, and take that position of Abu Lahab. The reason can be seen in Surah Tahrim, where Aisha chooses to side with the Prophet after he informs that he is aware of their plans, and she wondered who informed him of it and realized it can be only God as no one would have spilled the information from those planning against the Prophet (S) . This was a way to show the Prophet was constantly aware of Gog and Magog and aware of the Abu Lahab of the time even if that person claims to be Muslim and believer. In chapter 4 of Quran, it alludes that the person Satan has chosen to be Qareen of had spent much money but to show off and that God would have accepted the action if they believed in God and Last day and did out of pure intention. But it was to show off, and contend the Ulil-Amr from this nation.

Itr sounds like what this means is muhammed raped a child for political madness and you're saying that it was wisdom

 

[Starlight]

I already explained that Quran forbid it. We don't go killing children out of fear they will leave Islam and die apostates like Khidr (a) do we?

Yes the Quran forbid It. But in reality some muslims believe child marriage is ok because of hadiths. That is so terrible. I Hope the Quran Will open their eyes to the truth. The hadiths about aisha and her marriage is false and fabricated

 

[Link]

Itr sounds like what this means is muhammed raped a child for political madness and you're saying that it was wisdom

You can same Khidr (a) did out of religious fanaticism too.

The point is, he tangoed with the hidden Gog of that time, and Surah Tahrim shows he was aware of plots is what I'm saying. It was mind games. When Abu Bakr asked for Fatima (a) hand the hadiths show Mohammad (s) saying she is too young. Of course, it was a taunt for him to say you're a hypocrite Mohammad (s) but Abu Bakr was a patient one in his deceiving ways and for the cause of his gods.

 

[Leahpolitan_icecream]

Yes the Quran forbid It. But in reality some muslims believe child marriage is ok because of hadiths. That is so terrible. I Hope the Quran Will open their eyes to the truth. The hadiths about aisha and her marriage is false and fabricated

No they aren't
You can't just say falsehood falsehood when you hate something, maybe muhammed was just sick, maybe Islam is just wrong

 

[Leahpolitan_icecream]

You can same Khidr (a) did out of religious fanaticism too.

The point is, he tangoed with the hidden Gog of that time, and Surah Tahrim shows he was aware of plots is what I'm saying. It was mind games. When Abu Bakr asked for Fatima (a) hand the hadiths show Mohammad (s) saying she is too young. Of course, it was a taunt for him to say you're a hypocrite Mohammad (s) but Abu Bakr was a patient one in his deceiving ways and for the cause of his gods.

I do not understand this

 

[Link]

I do not understand this

It's a battle between good and evil at the heart, the killers of Prophets (a) are the killers of Imam Hussain (a) and exposing these people and trying them is yet to happen but the Mahdi (a) will do it. It's not something new that a leader from God get's killed (with Hussain (a)) by these imposters, and the Pharaoh is either hidden or manifest. Magog today are somewhat in the open, and were even during the time of the Prophet (s). A lot of went incognito, and Magog and Gog always rally where revelation will be revealed and is revealed, to corrupt it.

This is how children of Israel lost their power in the land after David (a) and Sulaiman (a) after all.

 

[Link]

Aside from chosen ones from God, some people like the believer who hid his faith among family of the Pharaoh are not required to practice Islam openly. The wife of Pharaoh also always hid her faith and believed in God of Abraham till the conflict was in the open.

So aside from chosen ones, some people have a license from God's Wali on earth, to not show their faith in the open and they can even do a lot of haram acts if it does not harm their faith.

There is a battle between good and evil, some of it is in the open, a lot of it hidden.

So this double agency goes both ways.

 

[Truthseeker]

God is against child marriage (especially against to constumate a marriage with a little girl on only 9 years old). Do you know why?

It is because if a adult have sex with a 9 year old girl and the girl become pregnant then she may die in child Birth!! The risk of her dying in child Birth is very very high. Because a 9 year old child have not a body that is big enough and strong enough to give Birth!!

Prophet Muhammad never married a child. Those hadiths was fabricated by enemies of Islam and Prophet Muhammad because they wanted to attack the moral character of Prophet Muhammad.

God is against child marriage. And that is prophet Muhammad also.

I don't know. If they did have sex at nine, and I doubt they did, I have confidence that Muhammad would have made sure it was done in such a way so Aisha wouldn't get pregnant. Whatever they did was mutual, Muhammad respected women's rights. After all a woman was His employer, who became His wife. He was content to, in other words, to be subordinate to a woman at one time.

edit: Sorry, it just occurred to me that consummation if it really happened would set a bad precedent. I can only say that hadith is unreliable, sometimes people make it up. My faith tells me that's what happened in some cases.

 

[Truthseeker]

Khidr (a) killed a child, Quran forbids killing children. Mohammad (s) marrying a child while Quran forbids should make them ether (1) believe he did not do it (2) If he did it, it was similar to Khidr (a) actions.

You can't compare this situation to the things Khidr did, in my opinion. Khidr was a mythological story, in my opinion, that mystics have sometimes used in a mystical way. Do you really think that Moses would be made to look so ignorant?

 

[Link]

You can't compare this situation to the things Khidr did, in my opinion. Khidr was a mythological story, in my opinion, that mystics have sometimes used in a mystical way. Do you really think that Moses would be made to look so ignorant?

I think everything about Messengers in Quran is to strengthen heart of Mohammad (s) and bring the truth and reminder to believers. All of them are relevant someway.

Of course, Mohammad (s) was once upon ignorant, and learned from Elyas (a). But Mohammad (s) became more knowledgeable then Elyas (a) who is the witness from children of Israel alluded to in Quran that testified to Mohammad (s) per Shiite hadiths.