Child Marriage in Islamic Law: Difference between revisions

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<metadesc>Pedophilia is permitted in the Qur'an, was practiced by Prophet Muhammad and his companions, and some Muslims today continue to commit the crime, following their prophet's example.</metadesc>
There is no specific marriage age in islam but equivalence among couples is suggested by islam in order not to have a problem during marriage.{{Core}}
Pedophilia is permitted in the [[Qur'an]], was practiced by Prophet [[Muhammad]] and his [[Sahabah|companions]], and some Muslims today continue to commit the crime, following their prophet's [[Sunnah|example]].
 
{{Core}}
==Definition==
==Definition==
'''Pedophilia''' <sup>(US)</sup> or ''paedophilia'' <sup>(UK)</sup> is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted to prepubescent or peripubescent children.<ref>[http://www.minddisorders.com/Ob-Ps/Pedophilia.html Definition and scope of Pedophilia]</ref> A person with this attraction is called a ''pedophile'' or ''paedophile''.
'''Pedophilia''' <sup>(US)</sup> or ''paedophilia'' <sup>(UK)</sup> is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted to prepubescent or peripubescent children.<ref>[http://www.minddisorders.com/Ob-Ps/Pedophilia.html Definition and scope of Pedophilia]</ref> A person with this attraction is called a ''pedophile'' or ''paedophile''.
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In contrast to the generally accepted medical definition, the term ''pedophile'' is also used colloquially to denote significantly older adults who are sexually attracted to adolescents below the local age of consent,<ref>Ames, A. & Houston, D. A. (1990). "Legal, social, and biological definitions of pedophilia."  ''Archives of Sexual Behavior''. '''19''' (4), 333-342.</ref> as well as those who have sexually abused a child.
In contrast to the generally accepted medical definition, the term ''pedophile'' is also used colloquially to denote significantly older adults who are sexually attracted to adolescents below the local age of consent,<ref>Ames, A. & Houston, D. A. (1990). "Legal, social, and biological definitions of pedophilia."  ''Archives of Sexual Behavior''. '''19''' (4), 333-342.</ref> as well as those who have sexually abused a child.


In contemporary law enforcement definitions, the term "pedophile" is generally used to describe those accused or convicted of the sexual abuse of a minor. Pedophilia is considered a taboo and is illegal in most societies, cultures and religions.
In contemporary law enforcement definitions, the term "pedophile" is generally used to describe those accused or convicted of the sexual abuse of a minor. Pedophilia is considered a taboo and is illegal in most societies, cultures and religions; except in the Islamic world with regards to [[Islam]].
 
==Scripture==
==Scripture==


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This article refutes miscellaneous apologetics which may not be fully covered in our other articles, but are used by some to justify the marriage between the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his six-year-old bride Aisha.
This article refutes miscellaneous apologetics which may not be fully covered in our other articles, but are used by some to justify the marriage between the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his six-year-old bride Aisha.


The 25 different excuses covered include; Muhammad can't be a pedophile because he also married grown women, pedophiles prefer children but Muhammad had many adult wives and only one child-bride, at that time it was okay to marry 9 year olds in Arabia, people lived shorter life spans back then, and menstruation in hot climates starts earlier than in cold ones, so girls in Arabia matured as early as nine.
The 25 different excuses covered include; Muhammad can't be a pedophile because he also had sex with grown women, pedophiles prefer children but Muhammad had many adult wives and only one child-bride, at that time it was okay to have sex with 9 year olds in Arabia, people lived shorter life spans back then, and menstruation in hot climates starts earlier than in cold ones, so girls in Arabia matured as early as nine.


==Modern World==
==Modern World==
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Due to its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, child marriages are permitted by the majority of Muslim scholars and leaders, and in many Islamic countries it is common practice.  
Due to its many endorsements within Islamic scripture, child marriages are permitted by the majority of Muslim scholars and leaders, and in many Islamic countries it is common practice.  
Girls far below the age of puberty are forcibly married to older persons  (sometimes in their 50s and later) for various personal gains by the girls' guardian or with the intention to preserve family honor by helping her avoid pre-marital sex.


Pedophilic Islamic marriages are most prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan, followed by other countries in the [[Middle East]] and Bangladesh.<ref>[http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=1631 America Magazine: Child Marriage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Andrew Bushell; March 11, 2002]</ref><ref>[http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=630 Americans For UNFPA: Virtual Slavery: The Practice of “Compensation Marriages” by Net Community of AfUNFPA; last retrieved Monday, 08 December 2008]</ref> This practice may also be prevalent to a lesser extent amongst other Muslim communities, and is on the rise among the growing Muslim populations in many non-Muslim countries, such as the United Kingdom<ref name="Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years">[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196955/Ten-fold-rise-forced-marriages-just-years.html Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years] - The Daily Mail July 2, 2009</ref> and the United States.<ref>Christine Vendel - [http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1557578.html?pageNum=2&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container Man charged with statutory rape in ‘marriage’ to 14-year-old girl] - The Kansas City Star, November 8, 2009</ref>  
Pedophilic Islamic marriages are most prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan, followed by other countries in the [[Middle East]] and Bangladesh.<ref>[http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=1631 America Magazine: Child Marriage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Andrew Bushell; March 11, 2002]</ref><ref>[http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=630 Americans For UNFPA: Virtual Slavery: The Practice of “Compensation Marriages” by Net Community of AfUNFPA; last retrieved Monday, 08 December 2008]</ref> This practice may also be prevalent to a lesser extent amongst other Muslim communities, and is on the rise among the growing Muslim populations in many non-Muslim countries, such as the United Kingdom<ref name="Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years">[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196955/Ten-fold-rise-forced-marriages-just-years.html Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years] - The Daily Mail July 2, 2009</ref> and the United States.<ref>Christine Vendel - [http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1557578.html?pageNum=2&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container Man charged with statutory rape in ‘marriage’ to 14-year-old girl] - The Kansas City Star, November 8, 2009</ref>  
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===Muslim Statistics on Pedophilia===
===Muslim Statistics on Pedophilia===
{{Main|Muslim Statistics - Children|l1=Muslim Statistics (Children)}}
{{Main|Muslim Statistics - Children|l1=Muslim Statistics (Children)}}
This page consists of various statistics concerning Islam and children. A small sample include:
#4 out of 5 Middle-Eastern women are sexually abused between the ages of 3 and 6 by family members.
#More than half of all Yemeni girls are married before reaching the age of puberty.
#With more than 3,900 children within 6 months, Indonesia tops the UN bodies list for child trafficking cases
#2,000 child sex abuse claims in 1 year at Pakistani Islamic schools, but not even 1 successful prosecution


===Pedophilia Discussed in Arabic/Islamic Media===
===Pedophilia Discussed in Arabic/Islamic Media===
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{{Main|The Tragedy of Aisha}}
{{Main|The Tragedy of Aisha}}


It is no secret that sexual abuse of children has serious consequences on its victims and, among Muslims and non-Muslims alike, Of course, for Muslims to finally acknowledge the harmful effects of abuse on a child it becomes necessary for us to expose those effects through authentic Islamic sources. That is why we find Aisha, Muhammad's third wife, to be the perfect model for assessing pedophilia and its consequences on the victims.  
It is no secret that sexual abuse of children has serious consequences on its victims and, among Muslims and non-Muslims alike, it is no longer a secret that the Qur'an explicitly condones pedophilia. Of course, for Muslims to finally acknowledge the harmful effects of abuse on a child it becomes necessary for us to expose those effects through authentic Islamic sources. That is why we find Aisha, Muhammad's third and "favorite" wife, to be the perfect model for assessing pedophilia and its consequences on the victims. The life of Aisha bint Abu Bakr truly was a seventh century tragedy.
 
===Muhammad a Pedophile? Another Look===
{{Main|Was Muhammad a Pedophile?}}


A second look at the question; was Muhammad a pedophile? One of the most disturbing things about Islam is that it does not categorically condemn pedophilia. Indeed, it cannot, for to do so would draw attention to the pedophilia of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Many Muslims cannot condemn pedophilia even if they would like to, for they would have to abandon Islam. Muslims tacitly approve of pedophilia, even if they are embarrassed to say so. So mesmerized are Muslims by the example of Muhammad's pedophilia that they are unable to categorically denounce pedophilia or feel shame. It is prevalent in many Muslim countries disguised as child marriage. The UN is today trying to stop the evil of child marriage among the backward Islamic regions of Asia and Africa. The future of some 300 million young girls depends on it.


===Aisha was Still Pre-pubescent Aged Fifteen===
===Aisha was Still Pre-pubescent Aged Fifteen===
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