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23 f 🐦
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Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Muhammad’s Marriage to a Prepubescent Minor: A Quick Response to a Common Muslim
Objection
By Sam Shamoun
There are some internet dawagandists who quote the following English rendering of al-Bukhari in order to
prove that Aisha was past the age of puberty when she married and had sex with Muhammad, who was
approximately 54 years old at that time:
Narrated: Aisha
I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the
Prophet visited us, both in the mornings and evenings. My father Abu Bakr thought of building a
mosque in the courtyard of his house and he did so. He used to pray and recite the Qur’an in it. The
pagan women and their children used to stand by him and look at him with surprise. Abu Bakr was a
softhearted person and could not help weeping while reciting the Quran. The chiefs of the Quraish
pagans became afraid of that (i.e. that their children and women might be affected by the recitation of
Quran).” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 465)
Muslims assume that since Aisha claims to have been pubescent when her parents became Muslims, which was
many years before she married Muhammad, they take this as proof that she wasn’t a physically immature child
not ready for sexual consummation when Muhammad took her to bed to be his wife.
The problem with this claim is that these polemicists are basing their entire argument on an English translation
of the foregoing hadith, which they take to be correct. However, the proper understanding of the hadith
becomes clearer when we compare it with the following narration:
“Narrated Aisha: (wife of the Prophet) Since I reached the age WHEN I COULD REMEMBER
THINGS, I have seen my parents worshipping according to the right faith of Islam. Not a single day
passed but Allah's Apostle visited us both in the morning and in the evening..." (Sahih al-Bukhari,
Volume 3, Book 37, Number 494)
Now compare how Muslima Aisha Bewley renders the first hadith in her translation of al-Bukhari:
LII: A mosque should not be built in a thoroughfare if that would be detrimental to people
Al-Hasan, Ayyub and Malik all said this.
464. It is related that 'A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, said, "I have no recollection of my parents doing
anything but following the deen of Islam. No day would pass without the Messenger of Allah visiting
us at either end of it, both morning and evening. Then it occurred to Abu Bakr to build a mosque in the
forecourt of his house. He used to pray and recite Qur'an in it. The pagan women and children would
stand there amazed, staring at him. Abu Bakr was a man who wept easily and could not control his tears
when reading the Qur'an and this was a matter of great concern to those nobles of Quraysh who
worshipped idols." (Bewley, The Sahih Collection of al-Bukhari, Chapter 11: Mosques)
And here is her translation of the second narration:
IV: The protection and promise granted to Abu Bakr during the time of the Prophet
2175. It is related that 'A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, said, "I only remember my parents following the
deen."
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https://web.archive.org/web/20180423125356/http://www.reformedapologeticsministries.com/2016/08/muhammads-marriage-to-prepubescent.html
It is related that 'A'isha, the wife
Go MARmyAPR
of the Prophet, said, "I ONLY REMEMBER MAYfollowing the
parents 👤 ⍰ ❎
23 of the day,
deen. Not a day passed by without the Messenger of Allah coming to us at the two ends f 🐦
morning and evening…” (Ibid., Chapter 42: Book of Sureties (Kafala); capital
2016and underline
2018 2019 emphasis
▾ About this capture
ours)
The foregoing makes it abundantly clear that the hadith isn’t speaking to the issue of Aisha’s puberty
whatsoever. Rather, the point of the narration is on Aisha’s recalling the fact of her parents being Muslims from
the time she was able to mind her surroundings. However, one doesn’t have to reach puberty in order to be able
to be cognizant of the things taking place around them.
Besides, al-Bukhari provides evidence that Aisha hadn’t attained puberty when Muhammad had sex with her:
XXXIX. A man giving his YOUNG CHILDREN in marriage
By the words of Allah, "that also applies to those WHO HAVE NOT YET MENSTRUATED" (65:4)
and He made the 'idda of a girl before puberty three months.
4840. It is related from 'A'isha that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and
consummated it when she was nine, and she was his wife for nine years. (Bewley, The Sahih Collection
of Al-Bukhari, Chapter 70. Book of Marriage; capital and underline emphasis ours)
Al-Bukhari mentions Aisha’s marriage to Muhammad at the age of 9 to illustrate the meaning of Q. 65:4, a text
which permits grown men to marry and have sex with young prepubescent girls. Now this only makes sense if
Muhammad married Aisha before the latter had reached maidenhood.
In fact, Muhammad’s marriage to a minor set the precedence for other men to follow suit, and became
enshrined in the Quran:
And if you are in doubt as to the prescribed period for such of your women as have despaired of
monthly courses, then know that the prescribed period for them is three months, and also for such AS
DO NOT HAVE not have their monthly courses YET. And as for those who are with child, their
period shall be until they are delivered of their burden. And whoso fears ALLAH, HE will provide
facilities for him in his affair. S. 65:4 Sher Ali
The surrounding context deals with the issue of the waiting period for divorce, and remarriage. The Quran is
basically informing Muslims to wait for a certain period of time before making the divorce final or deciding to
forego it. The Quran exhorts men to wait a period of three months in the case of women who either are no
longer menstruating or haven’t even started their menstrual cycles! Thus, Islam permits men to marry
prepubescent girls and even divorce them if they so choose!
This is further confirmed by the fact that according to Quran 33:49, there is no waiting period for a woman
whose marriage hasn’t been consummated by sexual intercourse. Here, once again, is al-Bukhari:
Narrated Sahl bin Sad:
 While we were sitting in the company of the Prophet a woman came to him and
presented herself (for marriage) to him. The Prophet looked at her, lowering his eyes and raising them,
but did not give a reply. One of his companions said, “Marry her to me O Allah’s Apostle!” The Prophet
asked (him), “Have you got anything?” He said, “I have got nothing.” The Prophet said, “Not even an
iron ring?” He said, “Not even an iron ring, but I will tear my garment into two halves and give her one
half and keep the other half.” The Prophet; said, “No. Do you know some of the Quran (by heart)?” He
said, “Yes.” The Prophet said, “Go, I have agreed to marry her to you with what you know of the
Qur’an (as her Mahr).” ‘And for those who have no courses (i.e. they are still immature). (65.4) AND
THE ‘IDDAT FOR THE GIRL BEFORE PUBERTY IS THREE MONTHS (in the above Verse).
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62,Number 63)
Now let us see how some of Islam’s greatest scholars and expositors interpreted Q. 65:4. We start with Ibn
Kathir:
“… There is a third type of divorce, which is neither a Sunnah nor an innovation where one divorces A
YOUNG WIFE WHO HAS NOT BEGUN TO HAVE MENSES, the wife who is beyond the age of
having menses, and divorcing one’s wife before the marriage was consummated…” (Q. 65:1; bold,
capital and italicized emphasis ours)
And:
The `Iddah of Those in Menopause and Those Who do not have Menses
Allah the Exalted clarifies the waiting period of the woman in menopause. And that is the one whose
menstruation has stopped due to her older age. Her `Iddah is three months instead of the three monthly
cycles for those who menstruate, which is based upon the Ayah in (Surat) Al-Baqarah. [see 2:228] The
same for THE YOUNG, WHO HAVE NOT REACHED THE YEARS OF MENSTRUATION… (Q.
65:4; capital and italicized emphasis ours)
And here are a few more:
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2/9/2019 Reformed Apologetics Ministries: Muhammad’s Marriage to a Prepubescent Minor: A Quick Response to a Common Muslim Objection
Thompson vs. Charismatic (And for such of your women
http://www.reformedapologeticsministries.com/2016/08/muhammads-marriage-to-prepubescent.htmlas despair of menstruation) because of old MAR
Go age, (if APR MAY about their
ye doubt) 👤 ⍰ ❎
7 captures
Arminian)
- Is Original Sin Biblical?
23 asked: “O f 🐦
waiting period, (their period (of waiting) shall be three months) upon which another man
7 Aug 2016 - 25 May 2018 Messenger of Allah! What about the waiting period of those who do not have 2016menstruation
2018 2019 BECAUSE
▾ About this capture
(Keith Thompson vs. Two
THEY ARE TOO YOUNG?” (along with those who have it not) because of young age, their waiting
Pelagians)
period is three months. (Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs; bold, capital and italicized emphasis
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Teach the Deity of Jesus? ours)
(Keith Thompson vs. Yuratchka
the Arian) “… Abu Ishaq al-Muqri’ informed us> Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Hamdun> Makki ibn ‘Abdan>
- Does Scripture Teach Abu’l-Azhar> Asbat ibn Muhammad> Mutarrif> Abu ‘Uthman ‘Amr ibn Salim who said: “When the
Predestination? (Keith waiting period for divorced and widowed women was mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah, Ubayy ibn Ka‘b
Thompson vs. Arminian - very said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, some women of Medina are saying: there are other women who have not
short) been mentioned!’ He asked him: ‘And who are they?’ He said: ‘THOSE WHO ARE TOO YOUNG
[SUCH THAT THEY HAVE NOT STARTED MENSTRUATING YET], those who are too old [whose
ARTICLES menstruation has stopped] and those who are pregnant’. And so this verse (And for such of your women
Islam as despair of menstruation…) was revealed’.” (Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi; bold, capital and
italicized emphasis ours)
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James White Yasir Qadhi {and those who have not menstruated yet} Meaning the young girl. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi)
Controversy
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of John Finally:
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Died by Crucifixion
“… Women who do not menstruate, BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT YET ATTAINED PUBERTY, or
- Are the Gospels too late and
because they have attained menopausal age…” (Maariful-Qur'an, by Maulana Mufti Muhammad
Unreliable?
- Original Sources the Koran Shafi', translated by Prof. Muhammad Hasan Askari & Prof. Muhammad Shamim, revised by Justice
Stole its Stories from Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Volume 8, p. 494; bold, capital and italicized emphasis ours)
- The Corruption of the Koran:
Evidence and New Research “… Likewise, ‘‘iddah for a woman who does not menstruate ON ACCOUNT OF MINORITY OF
- Muhammad Taught and AGE, or because she has attained menopausal age, is computed on monthly basis. Their ‘‘iddah is three
Practiced Offensive Jihad months. (Ibid., pp. 495-496; bold, capital and italicized emphasis ours)
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Predicted in the Bible?
This now raises two major problems for the Muslims to wrestle with. Muhammad is said to be a role model for
- Errors in the Koran and
all peoples at all times. Therefore, why wouldn’t he abolish this practice of marrying and having sex with
Ahadith
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Demon Possessed emotionally and physiologically? After all, didn’t Muhammad abolish adoption, which benefits both orphans
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- Some Absurd and Silly great emotional healing and love to so many human lives, as opposed to sanctioning the sexual abuse of
Teachings of Muhammad minors?
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Arguments for Traditional having a husband to love and care for her for all the days that she lived.
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Refutation of Purgatory
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