[فداء الرسول]

Age of Puberty in Ancient Arabia

Age of Sexual Maturity in Ancient Arabia
We have provided categorical proof that such early marriages took place in all ancient
(and not so ancient) civilizations, including the Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Roman, Greek,
Russian, African, Native American, Mongolian, Chinese, Indian, Egyptian, and
Australian civilizations, among others. But perhaps the most relevant is the seventh
century Arabian civilization, so here we shall cite proof that sexual maturity took place
very early in the days of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Ustadh Ayman bin Khaled
cited a number of examples in Bassam Zawadi’s article, as follows.


Imam al-Shafi’i said in Siyar A’lam al-Nubala’ (Vol.10, p.91):


During my stay in Yemen, I have come across girls at the age of nine whom
menstruated…
Imam al-Bayhaqi also narrated the words of Imam Shafi’i in Sunan al-Bayhaqi al-Kubra
(Vol.1, p.319):


I have seen in the city of Sana’a a grandmother while she was twenty-one. She
menstruated at the age of nine and gave birth at the age of ten.


Ibn al-Jawzi narrated similar stories from Ibn U’qail and U’bad al-Mahlby in his Tahqeeq
fi Ahadith al-Khilaf (Vol.2, p.267). So the fact is that girls were sexually active at the age
of nine, and they were turning into grandmothers before most people alive today would
have their own children! Therefore, because this was the cultural norm back then, no
blame can be put on Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is unacceptable to
judge an ancient figure based on today’s standards; we must judge him based on what
was the norm back then.


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Age of Marriage Under Islamic Law


Marriage of Immature Girls in Islam


Islamic Law (Shari’ah) allows for a marriage contract (nikah) to be drafted years before
the marriage itself is actually enacted. In other words, the marriage contract is drawn up,
but the contract is not executed until a later date. So even though the marriage contract
can be drafted, the girl will not be “handed over” to the husband until many years
afterwards. In other words, a father can marry his immature daughter off to a man before
she comes of age, but the husband may not consummate the marriage until after she
attains maturity.


Under Islamic Law, there are certain shuroot an-nifaadh (conditions required for the
execution of the contract): for consummation of marriage, one of these conditions is that
both parties are mature enough for marriage. If this condition is not met, then the
marriage contract remains mauqoof (suspended) and has no actual practical effect, i.e. the
consummation of marriage is delayed until the girl becomes mature enough for that. In
the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Aisha (peace be upon her),
the marriage contract was signed when she was immature, but only took effect until after
she attained maturity. This is why Aisha (peace be upon her) remained in her father’s
house for three years after the marriage contract was drafted.


Shaykh Salih al-Munajjid said:



The fact that it is permissible to marry a young girl does not mean that it is
permissible to have intercourse with her; rather that should not be done until she
is able for it. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah) delayed
the consummation of his marriage to ‘Aa’ishah…Al-Dawoodi said: ‘Aa’ishah
(may Allaah be pleased with her) had reached physical maturity (at the time when
her marriage was consummated). [Sharh Muslim, 9/206]
(source: http://www.islamqa.com/index.php?ref=22442&ln=eng)


Islamic legal terminology is what confuses many Non-Muslims; they hear that Abu Bakr
(peace be upon him) married his daughter Aisha (peace be upon her) to Prophet

Muhammad (peace be upon him) when she was only six or seven years old; at that time,
she was an immature girl. However, the marriage was not consummated until years
afterwards. Therefore, the reality is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was just
betrothed to Aisha (peace be upon her) when she was an immature girl, but the marriage
was only consummated once she became a mature adult.

Signature of فداء الرسول

تحمَّلتُ وحديَ مـا لا أُطيـقْ من الإغترابِ وهَـمِّ الطريـقْ اللهم اني اسالك في هذه الساعة ان كانت جوليان في سرور فزدها في سرورها ومن نعيمك عليها . وان كانت جوليان في عذاب فنجها من عذابك وانت الغني الحميد برحمتك يا ارحم الراحمين