This is a question that often come from non-Muslims who know a bit about Islam and among the missionaries or Islam-bashers, it is often used as a weapon to attack Islam.
Abu Huraira narrated the Prophet (pbuh) said: “In the end of the time there will be liars and fabricators who will report tales and stories that neither you or your fathers have never heard. Be cautious of those so that they do not misguide you or tempt you.” [Saheeh Ibn Habban: 6766]
There are also among the Muslims those who view that the age of Aishah was not 6 or 9 years when she got married to the Prophet (pbuh). However, I am more inclined to the opinion that the true age of Aishah when she got married to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was 6 years and started to be with him (pbuh) at the age of 9 years according to many riwaayah (narrations). Amongst others are:
“Aishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) married her when she was 6 years old and she started to live with him at the age of 9 and he dies when she was 18 years old.” [Saheeh Muslim, no. 1422]
Qatadah said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) married Aishah binti Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (ra) when she was 6 years old and he did not get married with other virgin beside her (Aishah). They said that Angel Gabriel said (to Prophet (pbuh)): 'This is your wife' before she married her, then he married her in Makkah, before hijrah and after the death of Khadijah (ra). Then he consummated the marriage with her in Madinah when she was 9 years old and she was 18 when he passed away.” [Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir, no. 40]
Abu Malikah said: “The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) asked from Abu Bakr (ra) for a marriage with Aishah (ra) and Abu Bakr at that time had already given a promise to Jubair ibn Mut’am (to marry Aishah off with him). And then he (Abu Bakr) retracted his promise and married her off with the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). She (Aishah) at that time was 6 years old and he waited for 3 years and consummated the marriage with her she was 9 years old.” [Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabir, no. 62]
The Viewing Glasses
If we examine, we will find that this issue only started to get hot in these recent times. Whereas, logically, this issue could have been used as a “campaign material” since a long time ago, to attack the personality of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and the religion of Islam. However, we do not see any riwaayah indicating if the Arab society at the time of the Prophet (pbuh), as well as the following generations from other nations, had made this case as an issue to reject Islam.
It is as clear as day that through the viewing glasses of the past, this practice was accepted!
In fact, 1400 years ago was very different from now, times have changed and so have humans. 1400 years ago it was something very common to marry young girls, in fact they were not considered young girls, and rather they were considered young women back then. It is a historic fact that girls from the ages of 9 to 14 were being married in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in fact even in the United States girls at the age of 10 were also being married more than a century ago....!
Therefore, is unfair for us to judge this by viewing through the viewing glasses of this era only.
Minimum Marriage Age
Today, most countries have set the minimum age to allow a person to get married.
However, the ages also differ between countries. Some have it as 18 years, others at 21 years, and at 16 years and so on. Even in America itself, a country may differ from another country. In Massachusetts for example, with parental and judicial consent, a man can get married at an age as early as 14 years, while as for a female, it is as early as 12 years old. This means that the term “under age” in one country could differ from another country.
According to Islam, there is no minimum age specified. Islam allows one's body to determine if he or she is ready, namely when a person is akil baligh (adolescent, grown up). It is the age level when a child's body becomes an adult body capable of reproduction.
This also differs between individuals. Some become akil baligh early and others late. It depends on genetic factors, environment and diet.
So 9 years old is not an impossible age for a girl to reach maturity (akil baligh).
Imam ash-Shafi’e rahimahullah said:
“During my stay in Yemen, I have so often come across girls whom menstruated at the age of 9.” [Siyar A'lam Nubala 10/91]
He further said:
“I have seen in the city of Sana’a a grandmother while she was 21. She menstruated at the age of nine and gave birth at the age of 10.” [Sunan Al-Bayhaqi Al-Kubra, 1/319 ]
Ibnu al-Jawzi narrated the same story from Ibnu ‘Uqail and Abbad ibnu Abbad al-Muhlabi.
Abbad ibnu Abbad al-Muhlabi said:
“I have witnessed a woman from Muhlabah who becomes a grandmother at the age of 18. She gave birth at the age of 9 and her child gave birth at the age of 9, so she became a grandmother at the age of 18.” [Tahqeeq Fi Ahadeeth Al-Khilaf, 2/267]
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) showed the minimum age that a girl can possibly be approached, i.e. after reaching akil baligh (bodily and mentally mature), which is 9 years old in the case of Aishah (ra). The act of waiting until Aishah (ra) reached 9 years old itself is proof that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was not a pedophile!
Maturity
Also arising was the issue related to the maturity of Aishah (ra) to get married at that time. Once again, this issue also should not be seen through the viewing glasses of today.
At one time, a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) named Usamah bin Zayd (ra) participated in the battle of Khandaq at the age of 17. He was appointed as a general at the age of 18 to lead the Muslim army against the Byzantine Empire which was considered a “giant” at that time. Today, we cannot imagine an 18 year old becoming the chief of the armed forces of a country, let alone to lead the armed forces to fight the “giants” of today such as America and its allies.
Imam ash-Shafie had become an expert reference in fiqh (jurisprudence) at the age of 15. Today, a mufti appointed at the age of 35 is still considered too young. Ibnu Sina (Avicenna) became a renown doctor at the age of 18. Today, a university student in his/her 20's is still watching cartoons, playing with the teddy bear, obsessed with Sponge Bob and the Wonder Pets!
It is obvious, we should not compare the maturity at this age with the maturity of those who lived long ago. They matured much earlier than us.
Supposing The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) Was A Pedophile...
If the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was a pedophile, then Aishah (ra) would have been a victim of child sexual abuse. If it was true, then Aishah (ra) would definitely have been experiencing traces of trauma and terrible depression just as normally experienced by children who have fallen victim to sexual abuse.
However, this did not happen to Aishah (ra). We find the life of Aishah (ra) to be normal just like other women. In some riwaayahs, she was always very intimate, frolicky, playing together like running races with the Messenger of Allah, etc.
Besides that, we also find that Aishah (ra) turned to be a great female personage. She was a smart and clever person. She was one of those who narrated the most hadiths, an expert in the field of fiqh and a mentor to many other Islamic figures.
This is something that is impossible to happen if Aishah (ra) was a victim of a pedophile. As someone who was smart, it is impossible for her to not realize that a "pedophile" had taken advantage of her during her childhood. Despite living for 39 years after the demise of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh), she remained faithful to her husband, waiting to be reunited in Paradise. She remained steadfast in spreading the Sunnah and continuing his struggle. In fact, there are riwaayahs indicating that Aishah (ra) had fond memories of the company of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).
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