Child Marriage in the Qur'an: Difference between revisions

[[Muhammad]] married [[Aisha]] when she was [[Qur'an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Aisha#Aisha.27s_Age_at_Consummation_and_Marriage|six]], and had sexual intercourse with her while she still remained [[Aisha Age of Consummation|pre-pubescent]] at the age of nine [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar years]]. This fact has been recorded many times in [[Sahih]] [[Hadith|ahadith]]. This article will discuss the [[Qur'an|Qur'anic]] verse that allows [[Paedophilia]].

'''Here the 'Iddah is prescribed to three categories of women:'''

*First the phrase: “Yaisna min al-maheedhi” which means “those women who are desperate of menses” is an indication to women who reached the stage of menstruation but do not menstruate and of those who reached menopause. Desperate of menses underlines that it concerns women who though reached the age, fail to menstruate too. Their 'Iddah period is three months.  

*Next comes, “Wallaee Lam yahidhna” which means “those who have not menstruated yet” This group of females are pre-pubescent girls who have not yet menstruated. Here the 'Iddah prescribed for them is equal to the previous group of women (ie. three months).  

 

 

== Detailed analysis of the verse in Arabic ==

Further the imperfective verb in the context of ''lam'' ( <font size=3>لَمْ </font> ) (past tensed negatives) is in the [[w:Grammatical mood#Jussive|Jussive]] mood. <ref name=EB/> From Wikipedia:

'''Conclusion:'''

The phrase found in Qur'an 65:4 as "Wallaee Lam Yahidhna" is sometimes mistranslated by [[:Category:Islamic_Apologists|apologists]]. Exact meaning of the phrase is available in Tafsirs (Quran interpretations). Let Mufassirs clarify the issue of "Wallaee Lam Yahidhna":

Only the relevant parts from the Tafsirs will be quoted, because quoting the tafsir's for the verse in their entirety will be space consuming and a waste of effort. What needs to be confirmed will be extracted from Tafsirs. If anyone doubts whether these have been quoted out of context, the reference is given on each Tafsirs so it can be verified by checking original sources.

== Evidence from the ahadith ==

{{Quote|Bukhari (Chapter 39)|Giving one’s young children in marriage (is permissible) by virtue of the Statement of Allah: ‘And for those who have courses’ (i.e. they are still immature) (Sura 65:4) And the ‘Iddat [waiting period for a woman before lawful sexual intercourse] '''for the girl before puberty is three months''' (in the above Verse).}}

{{Quote|{{Bukhari|7|62|63}}|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 Sad, "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).|}}

==Recent fatwas==

== Apologetic objections ==

'''In summary:''' When Muslims asked Muhammad who the "Nisa" were, he said they were the:

{{quote || There is an alternative interpretation that does not involve pederasty, which is sexual activity between young girls and boys, i.e. early teenage years when menstruation may not have begun (or become regular) among girls, who are married to boys similar in age. This type of marriage was not uncommon in Semitic cultures, for example some scholars suggest that Mary (the mother of Jesus) was somewhere between the ages of twelve and fourteen when she married Joseph (although it should be noted that non-canonical gospels suggest Joseph was a mature man, possibly as old as ninety<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08504a.htm St. Joseph] - New Advent (For more on the marriage between Joseph and Mary, see [[Responses_to_Apologetics:_Muhammad_and_Aisha#Mary_married_90-year-old_Joseph_when_she_was_12-14.2C_so_Joseph_was_a_pedophile_too|Responses to Apologetics: Muhammad and Aisha]])</ref>).

Given the evidence from the Islamic texts themselves, this interpretation is not the 'most reasonable' as asserted. We have ample [[Aisha Age of Consummation|evidence]] that  Muhammad (who is considered the [[Uswa Hasana|uswa hasana]] - perfect example) married and had sex with a pre-pubescent Aisha, we have evidence that [[Muhammad's Companions and Pedophilia|Muhammad's companions also did it]] and that [[Contemporary Pedophilic Islamic Marriages|Muslims to this very day]] are marrying pre-pubescent females and having intercourse with them. In none of these cases are the husbands comparable in age to the wife. So even though this is a ''possible'' interpretation, it is by no means the ''only reason'' that Muhammad revealed this verse - as evidenced also in the tafsir's provided above. Simply put, Muhammad did not specify an 'iddah for those whom menstruation was not present, so one had to be sent regarding these 3 groups of women. Nowhere in the Qur'an or the ahadith does it discuss teenagers marrying teenagers (ie. to 'explain' this verse) and all the evidence that we have points to [much] older men marrying and having sexual relations with pre-pubescent females.

*[[Responses to Apologetics: Muhammad and Aisha‎]]

{{reflist}}