10 REASONS WHY MUHAMMAD WAS NOT A PEDOPHILE:

Anyone who says that Muhammad was a pedophile either:

1)doesn't understand the actual meaning of the word pedophile in
its correct social and historical context,
2)doesn't understand the social norms and the philosophy of
marriage and adulthood of the 7th century Arabs,
3)hasn't read the hadith that are relevant to the explanation of the
subject.
4)doesn't now why Muhammad became married to Aisha,
5)doesn't now how Muhammad became married to Aisha,
6)doesn't understand the role of dreams in the communication of
!ivine commands and inspiration,
7)doesn't understand why Muhammad became married to Aisha
when he did,
8)doesn't now Muhammad's relationship to Aisha's parents,
9)doesn't now about the ages of Muhammad's wives from other
marriages, or
10) doesn't now the "iblical philosophy of marriage and
adulthood and the age of young brides in the "ible #if it is a
$hristian or %ew who is slandering Muhammad's marriage to
Aisha&.
OUTLINE
I. DEFINITION OF THE WORD PEDOPHILE
II. REASONS BEHIND MUHAMMAD'S MARRIAGE TO AISHA
1)the hadith that are relevant to the explanation of the subject
2)why Muhammad became married to Aisha,
3)how Muhammad became married to Aisha,
4)the role of dreams in the communication of !ivine commands
and inspiration,
5)why Muhammad became married to Aisha when he did,
6)Muhammad's relationship to Aisha's parents
III. MARITAL NORMS OF THE 7TH CENTURY ARABS
1)contrast with modern 'estern marital norms
IV. MUHAMMAD'S OTHER MARRIAGES
V. MARITAL NORMS IN THE BIBLE
VI. OTHER FACTS
VII. SOURCES
I. DEFINITION OF THE WORD PEDOPHILE
(. )irst, let's loo at the de*nition of the words involved in the
attac against Muhammad.
pedp!"#e: a person who is sexually attracted to children.
#+xford American !ictionaries&
pedp!"#"$: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred
sexual object #Merriam,'ebster&
pe%&e%'"(: #Merriam,'ebster&
: a perverted form- especially : an aberrant sexual practice or
interest especially when habitual
(
: straying from the right or normal way
.
: deviating from the usual or natural type : atypical
$)e%%$(*:
departing from an accepted standard.
+#e'* :
pester or harass #someone&, typically in an aggressive or
persistent manner: the crowd was shouting abuse and molesting
the two police ofcers.
/ assault or abuse #a person, esp. a woman or child& sexually.
$),'e: verb 012byo3 o40 5 with obj. 6
1 use #something& to bad e7ect or for a bad purpose- misuse: the
judge abused his power by imposing the fnes.
- treat #a person or an animal& with cruelty or violence, esp.
regularly or repeatedly: riders who abuse their horses should be
prosecuted.
/ assault #someone, esp. a woman or child& sexually: he was a
depraved man who had abused his two young daughters 0 #as adj.
abused& : abused children.
/ use or treat in such a way as to cause damage or harm: he had
been abusing his body for years.
noun 012byo3os0
1 the improper use of something: alcohol abuse 0 an abuse of
public funds.
/ unjust or corrupt practice: protection against fraud and abuse 0
human rights abuses.
- cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal: a black eye
and other signs of physical abuse.
/ violent treatment involving sexual assault, esp. on a repeated
basis: young people who have sufered sexual abuse.
$''$,#*:
verb 5 with obj. 6
mae a physical attac on: he pleaded guilty to assaulting a
police ofcer 0 she was sexually assaulted as a child.
/ attac or bombard #someone or the senses& with something
undesirable or unpleasant: her right ear was assaulted with a tide
of music.
/ carry out a military attac or raid on #an enemy position&: they
left their strong position to assault the hill.
/ rape.
noun
1 a physical attac: his imprisonment for an assault on the flm
director 0 sexual assaults.
/ 8aw an act, criminal or tortious, that threatens physical harm to
a person, whether or not actual harm is done: he appeared in
court charged with assault.
$**$./:
attac 012ta0
verb 5 with obj. 6
tae aggressive action against #a place or enemy forces& with
weapons or armed force, typically in a battle or war: in December,
the apanese attacked !earl "arbor 0 5 no obj. 6 : #talian forces
attacked in $ctober.
/ #of a person or animal& act against #someone or something&
aggressively in an attempt to injure or ill: a doctor was attacked
by two youths.
/ $hess move into or be in a position to capture #an opponent's
piece&.
noun
an aggressive and violent action against a person or place: he
was killed in an attack on a checkpoint 0 three classrooms were
gutted in the arson attack.
/ an aggressive attempt to score a goal, win points, or gain or
e0p#"* an advantage in a game.
9:;A<=<
,(de% $**$./ subject to $11%e''"&e2 &"#e(*2 % !$%+3,#
$.*"(: his paintings have come under attack for their satanic
content.
+;>?>@ early (7th cent.: from )rench atta%ue #noun&, atta%uer
#verb&, from >talian attacco &an attack,' attaccare &join battle,'
based on an element of ?ermanic origin.
8et's loo at the de*nition of a .!"#d: a young human being below
the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority. #+xford
American !ictionaries&
a : a young person especially between infancy and youth
#Merriam,'ebster&
4,*!: the time of life when one is young- especially : the period
between childhood and maturity #Merriam,'ebster&
+$*,%"*4: the Auality or state of being mature- especially : full
development #Merriam,'ebster&
Modern 9uberty >nformation
A+e%".$( A.$de+4 3 Ped"$*%".' 5AAP6 de7(e' p,)e%*4 $'
Bthe time in your life when your body changes from that of a child
to that of an adult.B
+ne of these changes in women is the onset of menstruation, and
according to the AA9, BMost girls 5*rst6 get their periods between
C and (D years of age.B
pedp!"#e: BEhe A+e%".$( P'4.!"$*%". A''."$*"( further
de7(e' $ pedp!"#e $': a person who over at least a D month
period has recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual
urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent
child.B , D"$1('*". $(d S*$*"'*".$# M$(,$# 3 Me(*$#
D"'%de%'2 8*! Ed"*"(2 A+e%".$( P'4.!"$*%". A''."$*"(.
1998
<ummari4ing all these de*nitions, we can say that:
pedp!"#"$ "' )e'* de7(ed $': $ 'e0,$# $)(%+$#"*4 "(
:!".! p%e;p,)e'.e(* .!"#d%e( $%e *!e p%e3e%%ed )<e.* 3
'e0,$# $**%$.*"(.
II. REASONS BEHIND MUHAMMAD'S MARRIAGE TO AISHA
<ee the relevant hadith below:
Additionally, it should be mentioned that the same collection of
Muslim hadFth literature that tells us that Aishah was only nine
years old at the time of the marriage tells us that the marriage
was !ivinely ordained:
@arrated Aishah, may ?od be pleased with her: Ehe Messenger of
?od said #to me&: BGou have been shown to me twice in #my&
dreams. A man was carrying you in a silen cloth and said to me,
'T!"' "' 4,% :"3e.' > uncovered it- and behold, it was you. > said
to myself, '>f *!"' d%e$+ "' 3%+ Gd2 He :"## .$,'e "* *
.+e *%,e.'=
#<ahFh al,"uhHrF,Iolume 7, "oo D., @umber (J&
BAllah's Apostle told Aisha, 'Gou were shown to me twice in my
dreams. > beheld a man or $(1e# carrying you in a silen cloth. :e
said to me, BS!e "' 4,%', so uncover her.B And behold, it was
you. > would then say to myself, B>f *!"' "' 3%+ A##$!, then "*
+,'* !$ppe(.B'B
#"uhari: IC "K7 @(LC,MN&
)irst of all, there is no evidence to show that Muhammad was
sexually attracted to Aisha before they were married. >n fact, the
hadith seems to indicate that he was surprised to see that it was
her after he uncovered her in his dream #B> uncovered it- and
behold, it was youB&, and he also seemed to be surprised by the
revelation from ?od #dreams are one of the forms of prophetic
revelation& that made her his wife #B> said to myself, '>f this dream
is from ?od, :e will cause it to come true.'B&. @otice that he had
the dream *:".e before he acted on it and proceeded with the
marriage arrangements.
@otice the way Aisha was presented to Muhammad in his dream:
as a gift from ?od, wrapped in sil and carried by an angel. Any
man with a connection to ?od as strong as Muhammad's would be
eager to proceed with his marriage to his divinely appointed wife.
>f you new that ?od had specially sent you someone as a wife
and a gift, wouldn't you want to marry her as soon as possible
after she had reached pubertyO 'hy wait to be happy if she was
destined to be with you anywayO )or a true man of ?od,
$(4*!"(1 *!$* .+e' 3%+ Gd +,'* )e 1d.
>n light of these considerations, the Auestion is not Bwhy did
Muhammad marry Aisha at a young ageB, but Bwhy did ?od send
Muhammad *: dreams informing him that Aisha was his wife
when she was still youngOB ?od could've waited until Aisha was
(K years old or .J to send Muhammad the dream, but :e didn't.
'hy notO
Ehe answer appears to be that ?od wanted him to personally
demonstrate this aspect of >slamic marriage law: that the
minimum age standard for marriage is puberty. 'e must
remember that Muhammad was sent as an example for A88
humanity, for A88 times. Ehis means that his guidance must
include societies in which early marriage was commonly
practiced, and that's where his marriage to Aisha comes in handy.
As we now, he also provided us an example for those who marry
widows. >n addition, another of Muhammad's marriages gave
guidance on the proper position of adopted children with respect
to marriage laws. 'hat are the possible bene*ts of early
marriagesO +ne example would be a case in which a father was
not able to or willing to *nancially support his daughter beyond
puberty.
Ehe *rst dream was possibly meant to inform him and introduce
him to ?od's decision on the issue. :e may have been septical of
its interpretation or unsure of its timing: he'd never married a
woman that young before. Ehen came the second dream, possibly
to communicate the de*nite con*rmation of the order, and the
immediacy of its ful*llment: in his wisdom, he waited until she
reached puberty before he allowed her to live with him, setting a
de*nite precedent for his followers. Ehis event may also have
been designed as a trial to test and expose the corrupt slanderers
of today similar to how Mary's virgin conception was a trial for the
%ews and Aisha was a test for the Muslims after the B=vent of the
@eclace.B Additionally, Muhammad's beloved wife Phadijah had
recently died, which may be why ?od chose Aisha as his wife
during that time of grief.
"esides, it was good foresight on his part to marry her
immediately, because he only got to live with her for nine years
before he died. <he spent the rest of her life single. >f they were a
happy couple, then the more time they spent together, the better.
Muhammad had the dream when Aisha was still young before
they were even engaged, and he waited for two periods of time
before marrying her: once to complete the marriage agreement
and once for her to *nally go live with him. A pedophile wouldn't
have waited at all. <he never refused the marriage agreement.
<he was at the age of consent for her society. >slamic marriage
laws have less restrictive age standards than the adulterous
modern 'estern civili4ation, which allows for greater ease of
marriage and earlier marriages, which helps prevent fornication in
the society. As the "ible says Bbe fruitful and multiplyB #?=@ (:.K&.
>n fact, there are hadith in which Muhammad encourages his
followers to have as many children as possible so that he would
be the prophet with the most followers on %udgement !ay. :is
personal example of marrying Aisha at a young age sets the
precedent for his followers to imitate in order to achieve this goal.
<ome Muslim scholars dispute Aisha's age during her marriage,
including at least one scholar > have personally learned from and
whose intellect and analytical powers > have a great deal of
respect for who says he's seen convincing evidence and analysis
that has been compiled by other scholars. > myself haven't seen
this analysis, but > have independently found there to be
discrepancies in the reports of Aisha's age and even the 9rophet's
age, even in hadith from <ahih "uhari, so these numerical
*gures aren't something anyone should be dogmatic about nor
are they critical to understanding or practicing the religion or the
faith. >n fact, the Muslims don't even have any authentic
information as to the date of Muhammad's birth. Ehese
discrepancies range from one year up to three years. Ehere are
also some indications that Muhammad too his time in order to
allow her to mature even after she went to live with him. Anyway,
she was at the typical marriageable age for most ancient
societies, including those in the Middle =ast and ;ome. :e had
about a do4en wives of varied ages, some were older than he was
and only one of them is seen as controversial by modern western
standards.
<he was the daughter of his best friend, both her parents
approved the marriage and she also approved. <he was a happy
wife, and nobody critici4ed the marriage during Muhammad's
lifetime, not even his enemies because it was a normal
occurrence in a society where there were pretty much no laws at
all and no set minimum age standards for marriage. Ehis marriage
introduced the principle of puberty as the minimum reAuired
standard for getting married as an example to be followed by the
muslims.
As the ahHdFth about Aishah's age show, her betrothal too place
at least three years before the consummation of the marriage.Ehe
reason for this was that they were waiting for her to come of age
#i.e. to have her *rst menstrual period&. 9uberty as a biological
sign shows that a women is capable of bearing children. $an
anyone logically deny thisO 9art of the wisdom behind the
9rophet's marriage to Aishah just after she reached puberty is to
*rmly establish this as a point of >slamic 8aw, even though it was
already cultural norm in all <emitic societies #including the one
%esus grew up in&. Ehe large majority of >slamic jurists say that the
earliest time a marriage can be consummated is on the onset
sexual maturity #bulugh&, meaning puberty. <ince this was the
norm of all <emitic cultures and it still is the norm of many
cultures today: it is certainly not something that >slam invented.
Ehere was nothing abnormal about Aisha's age at marriage for the
Arabs during those times, she had already reached puberty, the
ages of Muhammad's other do4en or so wives show that her age
wasn't his preference, and Muhammad wasn't sexually attracted
to her prior to their marriage nor was his reason for marrying her
based on any physical attraction because he was commanded to
marry her by ?od in two dreams while she was still a young girl
and he waited until she grew up and reached puberty.
Ehe typical orientalistQislamaphobic charge is that Muhammad
married a child. "ut the text of the hadith prove otherwise. >n
actuality, Muhammad was "(3%+ed that Aisha was his wife. :e
didn't marry her. :e was married * her )4 Gd. :e had no
choice in the matter once the revelation was received #B> said to
myself, '>f this dream is from ?od, :e will cause it to come true.'B&.
III. MARITAL NORMS OF THE 7TH CENTURY ARABS
'e can see here that there was nothing BaberrantB or abnormal
about Muhammad's marriage to Aisha, since an Baccepted
standardB for age at marriage among the lawless Arabs was
virtually non,existent. Ehere was nothing abnormal or perverse at
all about the age she was when she went to live with Muhammad
because young marriages were a common occurrence. S!e
*e.!(".$##4 :$'('* $ .!"#d $3*e% '!e %e$.!ed p,)e%*4 %
$..%d"(1 * *!e $(."e(* A%$) $(d Se+"*". .,#*,%$# (%+'
3 !e% *"+e "(.#,d"(1 *!e '."e*"e' 3 *!e >e:' $(d *!e
p$1$( A%$)'. A..%d"(1 * $## *!e $(."e(* '."e*"e' 3 *!e
p$'*2 $ 4,(1 1"%# :$' .('"de%ed * )e $ 4,(1 :+$(
5$(d e#"1")#e 3% +$%%"$1e6 (.e '!e %e$.!ed *!e $1e 3
p,)e%*4. Ehere was nothing unusual about her age as a bride in
that society and children were de*nitely not Muhammad's
Bpreferred sexual object.B >n fact, A"'!$ :$' !"' (#4 &"%1"(
:"3e $(d *!e (#4 :"3e :!'e 4,(1 $1e "' .('"de%ed
.(*%&e%'"$# )4 +de%( We'*e%( .%"*".'.
'e can't be led to believe that Muhammad was abusive towards
Aisha or that he mistreated her, since the concept of marriage in
the Rur'an is dependent on justice as a prereAuisite #see the
verse in <urah @isa allowing four wives for example& and Aisha
herself stated in the hadith:
<aSd bin :isham ased Aisha #radi Allahu anha&: Mother of the
)aithful, tell me about the .!$%$.*e% of the Messenger of Allah
#may peace be upon him&. <he said: !on't you read the Rur'anO >
said: Ges. Tpon this she said: Ehe .!$%$.*e% of the Apostle of
Allah #may peace be upon him& was the Rur'an #<ahih Muslim
"oo UNNM, :adith U(D.L&.
And what does the Ruran say about MuhammadO
BAnd 'e have sent you #+ Muhammad <A'& not but as a mercy
for the 'Alamin #manind, jinns and all that exists&B #.(:(N7&.
B>ndeed in the Messenger of Allah #Muhammad <A'& you have a
good example to follow for him who hopes in #the Meeting with&
Allah and the 8ast !ay and remembers Allah muchB #LL:.(&.
BAnd verily, you #+ Muhammad <A'& are on an exalted standard
of characterB #DK:M&.
<o as we can see, by Aisha's own testimony and by the evidence
from the Rur'an itself that Muhammad was of the best character
possible.
)rom my own research, >'ve found that marriage in the Ruran is
also lined with menstrual cycles as a necessary condition, and
therefore puberty. Ehe more you loo at the meaning of the words
that explain the concept of pedophilia and the more you learn
about the marriage of Muhammad and Aisha, the more you see
that the label doesn't apply. Ehey had a happy marriage. Ehere
was no history of Baggressive, violent, or harmful action.B
Ehere are no universally agreed upon B*xedB rules for sexual
morality in terms of marriageable age across cultures and
historical eras, and therefore morality in this subject is to be
considered a Bgray areaB that is best understood in the context of
the rules of the society and the time period in which the person
lived. %ust because the modern 'est has updated its views on
marriageable age in the past century doesn't necessarily mean
that its philosophy of marriage and adulthood is superior to that
of ancient civili4ations lie the 7th century Arabs.
>f we apply modern American standards of adulthood #which
themselves di7er depending on which state you're in& to everyone
in ancient history, then we'd probably have to conclude that they
were A88 pedophiles because early marriage was a traditional
practice until recent times. Ehey de*nitely didn't conform to a
standard of waiting until (K in order to get married. <o whether
we analy4e the situation by social or biological standards, it is not
possible to conclude that Aisha was seen as a child or too young
for marriage by the people of her time, regardless of the arbitrary
changes that have been made to the de*nition of adulthood by
modern 'estern culture.
Aisha is the only wife of Muhammad that is considered to be
relatively young even by modern 'estern standards, and she was
also his only virgin wife. Ehis is not the behavior of a pedophile.
As the undisputed ruler of Arabia, Muhammad could've married
whoever he wanted to, including all the young girls of Arabia. "ut
you don't see the pattern which would indicate anything strange
or indicative of a fetish. Additionally, Aisha's' father, Abu "ar,
was Muhammad's best friend and their marriage only served to
strengthen the bonds of friendship with family ties. Ehere was
certainly nothing sinister or abusive about the situation.
<o we see that not only wasn't Muhammad's motive for marriage
sexual attraction to Aisha, but she also wasn't considered to be a
child at the time she went to live with him, but a young adult
#which is why he waited at least three years until she reached
puberty&. Ehis isn't the behavior of a pedophile at all. Ehere was
no Blegal age of majorityB amongst the Arabs before Muhammad
came because they were an essentially lawless civili4ation with no
set standards for marriage. Eherefore, it was Muhammad himself
who established through his personal example the legal age of
majority for women and the minimum age at which they could get
married, which was puberty. >n addition to this, while Muhammad
was slandered by his enemies for many things, his marriage to
Aisha wasn't one of them, and he was never accused of
BpedophiliaB or Bchild molestationB by anyone during his time.
O,% ',%.e' "(d".$*e *!$* A"'!$ :$' $.*,$##4 $),* *
+$%%4 '+e(e e#'e $(d !$d )ee( p%p'ed * )4 $(*!e%
+$(2 >,)$"% ")( M,*?$+2 )e3%e M,!$++$d2 ' )&",'#4
+$%%"$1e $* !e% $1e :$'('* $( $)(%+$# .,%%e(.e d,%"(1
!e% *"+e. A#'2 +$%%4"(1 A"'!$ :$'('* M,!$++$d'' "de$ "(
*!e 7%'* p#$.e )e.$,'e "* :$' $.*,$##4 @!$:#$! )"(* H$/"+
:! +$de *!e ',11e'*"( * M,!$++$d * +$%%4?A"'!$2
3,%*!e% p%&"(1 *!$* +$%%"$1e $* *!"' $1e :$' .+p#e*e#4
(%+$# * *!e A%$)':
)irstly, P%p!e*'' p%p'$# * ?A"'!$ .$+e *!%,1! $
',11e'*"( +$de )4 @!$:#$! )"(* H$/"+ as a sign of
strengthening the relation with his $ompanion Abu "ar and
con*rming his love for him.
<econdly, *!e 3$.* *!$* ?A"'!$2 )e3%e *!e P%p!e*
p%p'ed * !e%2 :$' )e"(1 p,%',ed )4 >,)$"% ")(
M,*?$+2 "(d".$*e' *!$* '!e :$' +$*,%e e(,1! 3%
+$%%"$1e2 according to the prevailing tradition at that time, if
not, the Ruraish people, who would never waste any chance to
insult the 9rophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would
have found this marriage as a golden opportunity to pour on
him rain of insults. ;ather they found nothing wrong in this
engagement, and they received the news of the 9rophet's
proposal for VAisha as something usual, and even, expected.
?A"'!$ :$' (* *!e 7%'* .$'e2 3% +$(4 1"%#' +$%%"ed $*
!e% '$+e $1e * +e( :! :e%e $* *!e"% 3$*!e%'' $1e.
:ala, the cousin of Amina bint 'ahb was married to Abdul,
Muttalib on the same day his son VAbdullah married Aminah bint
'ahb who was at :ala's same age. Also, the $ompanion VTmar
ibn Al,Phattab married the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Ealib, may
Allah honor his face, while he was at her grandpa's age.
After the passage of many centuries, we *nd now some
+rientalists who try to strie a comparison between the
conditions of our present time and what was existing (MNN years
ago. Ehey are trying to apply the criterions of the 'estern
society to that society that existed in the Arabian 9eninsula very
long ago.
>* '!,#d )e (*ed *!$* "( *!e !* %e1"('2 "*'' (%+$# 3%
$ 1"%# * $**$"( +$*,%"*4 $* $ &e%4 e$%#4 $1e. Ehus the case
is totally di7erent from that which does exist in the cold regions
where a girl does not attain puberty before .( AP!4'"."$('
+$"(*$"( *!$* *!e $1e 3 p,)e%*4 "( *!e !* %e1"('
(%+$##4 %$(1e' 3%+ 9 * 1BC. A* $## %$*e'2 "* '!,#d )e
'*%e''ed *!$* *!e P%p!e*2 pe$.e $(d )#e''"(1' )e ,p(
!"+2 ( +$%%4"(1 ?A"'!$2 (e&e% $"+ed $* 3,#7##"(1 $ #,'*
% '$*"'34"(1 $ de'"%eD %$*!e%2 !"' $"+ :$' * '*%e(1*!e(
!"' %e#$*"( :"*! *!e +'* )e#&ed C+p$("( 3 !"'.
:ad it been true that the 9rophet, peace and blessings be upon
him, aimed at ful*lling a lust or satisfying a desire, he would
have done this while still in his youth when he was still free from
the responsibilities of delivering Allah's call. At his early age, the
9rophet, peace and blessings be upon him, accepted to marry
Phadija, may Allah be pleased with her, who was (J years older
than him. :e also never married a new wife until after her
death. =ven after her passing away, his new wife <awdah bint
WamVah was an old,aged widow who possessed no particular
appealing Aualities. Ehis adds to our certainty that the 9rophet,
peace and blessings be upon him, had many great lofty aims
behind his marriages. Also, when @!$:#$! )"(* H$/"+
',11e'*ed * !"+ * +$%%4?A"'!$2 the 9rophet, peace and
blessings be upon him, thought thoroughly whether to accept or
to refuse. :e too into consideration his relation with Abu "ar.
'hen VAisha reached the 9rophet's house, <awdah gave her the
*rst place and too care of her till her death.. Afterwards, VAisha
remained a faithful wife to the 9rophet, peace and blessings be
upon him- her (N years of marriage were of the life of a fully
dedicated disciple, trainee and scholarly student in the noble
9rophetic school. S!e :$' *!e ',%.e 3 /(:#ed1e 3%
$#+'* e&e%4 C+p$("(. S!e :$' 3 *!e +$"( ',%.e'
3% %e&e$#"(1 /(:#ed1e $(d "(3%+$*"( 3 *!e p%"&$*e
#"3e 3 *!e P%p!e*2 pe$.e $(d )#e''"(1' )e ,p( !"+. <he
was a big celebrity in politics and the best example of
generosity.
T!e P%p!e*'' #&e 3% ?A"'!$ :$' $ '"1( 3 !"' #&e 3%
!e% 3$*!e%. O( )e"(1 $'/ed $),* *!e de$%e'* pe%'( *
!"' !e$%*2 *!e P%p!e*2 pe$.e $(d )#e''"(1' )e ,p( !"+2
+e(*"(ed ?A"'!$. T!e(2 ( )e"(1 $'/ed $),* *!e
de$%e'* +$( * !"+ $(d !e2 pe$.e $(d )#e''"(1' )e ,p(
!"+2 +e(*"(ed !e% 3$*!e%2 A), B$/%.
$+@E;A<E '>E: M+!=;@ '=<E=;@ MA;>EA8 @+;M<
I(*e%e'*"(1#42 :!e( (e $($#4Ee' *!e '"*,$*"( "* $ppe$%'
*!$* *!e +de%( '*$(d$%d 3% $d,#*!d "( *!e We'*
de'('* 'ee+ * )e d,e * We'*e%( e(#"1!*e(+e(* % $(
$d&$(.ed ."&"#"E$*"( $* $##2 ),* "* "' $.*,$##4 *!e %e',#* 3
e.(+". $(d ed,.$*"($# .e%."( )4 *!e 1&e%(+e(*'
:!".! +$(d$*e &e% $ de.$de 3 p,)#". ed,.$*"( 3%
.!"#d%e( $(d *!e ),'"(e''e' *!$* %eF,"%e $d&$(.ed '/"##'
$(d ed,.$*"( 3% e+p#4+e(*. I3 *!e We'* !$d $ '"+p#e
$1%$%"$( e.(+4 '"+"#$% * *!e $(."e(* :%#d2 '*$(d$%d'
3% $d,#*!d $(d *!,' +$%%"$1e :,#d #"/e )e &e%4 +,.!
*!e '$+e2 $' *!e4 :e%e "( A+e%".$ <,'* 100 4e$%' $1
)e.$,'e #e'' ed,.$*"( $(d *!e%e3%e *"+e :$' (eeded 3%
$ +$( * )e.+e *!e !e$d 3 $ !,'e!#d $(d 3% $
:+$( * )e.+e eF,"pped 3% +*!e%!d. I( 3$.*2 *!e
We'*'' .,%%e(* '*$(d$%d 3 $d,#*!d2 1G 4e$%' 3 $1e2
$.*,$##4 'ee+' * .%%e'p(d * *!e $1e $* :!".! +'*
4,*! 1%$d,$*e 3%+ !"1! '.!#. A' #$*e $' 1G9H2 *!e $1e
3 .('e(* 3% 'e0 "( De#$:$%e :$' (#4 7 4e$%' #d. S "*
"' "( 3$.* *!e We'* :!".! !$' %e.e(*#4 de."ded * .!$(1e
"*' '*$(d$%d' $(d %$"'e "*' $1e 3 .('e(*2 $(d *!e%e "'
$.*,$##4 (*!"(1 (e: % '*%$(1e $),* *!e I'#$+".
'*$(d$%d $* $##.
Ehere is no way 'esterners can insinuate that the 9rophet was
some ind of child rapist or sic pedophile, as Aisha was his WIFE
and not some ind of rape victim. Ehe marriage was meant to last
for life, and he was not taing advantage of her in order to satisfy
some ind of temporary physical lust or fetish for young girls.
'ould a pedophile have waited for over JN years just to marry
one young girl, after she'd reached pubertyO @o, of course not.
"esides, :!'' * '$4 *!$* *!e 9 4e$% #d' "( A%$)"$ 1800
4e$%' $1 :e%e $* *!e '$+e #e&e# 3 p!4'".$# $(d +e(*$#
+$*,%"*4 3 *!e We'*e%( 9 4e$% #d 1"%#' 3 *d$4I I( 3$.*2
A"'!$ :$' &e%4 "(*e##"1e(* 3% !e% $1e2 $(d :$' $.*,$##4 $
'.!#$% :! *$,1!* +$(4 3 M,!$++$d'' .+p$("('.
I( %e$#"*42 "* $ppe$%' *!$* *!e *%,e %e$'( *!$* +de%(
We'*e%(e%' $%e ' d"'1,'*ed $(d %ep,#'ed )4 e$%#4
+$%%"$1e' "' *!e 3$.* *!$* *!e4 *!e+'e#&e' !$&e '."e*"e'
7##ed :"*! pedp!"#e' $(d .!"#d %$p"'*'2 $(d *!e%e3%e *!e4
&"e: $## *!e% '."e*"e' *!$* p%$.*".e e$%#4 +$%%"$1e
*!%,1! *!e'e #e('e'. B,* "( 3$.*2 e$%#4 +$%%"$1e' :e%e
$(d '*"## $%e .++( "( +$(4 p#$.e'2 $(d I :,#d('* )e
',%p%"'ed "3 pedp!"#"$ $(d .!"#d %$pe :e%e $( ,(.++(
..,%%e(.e "( *!e'e %e1"('2 e'pe."$##4 "( *!e M,'#"+
:%#d. T!e 3$.* *!$* We'*e%( '."e*4 !$' )e.+e '"./ $(d
.%%,p*ed :"*! %e'pe.* * *!"' "'',e '$4' (*!"(1 $),*
*!e +*"&$*"(' $(d "(*e(*"(' 3 +e+)e%' 3 *!e%
.,#*,%e'.
I( 3$.*2 "* "' We'*e%( +e( :! $%e *!e +$"( p$%*"."p$(*' "(
.!"#d 'e0 *,%"'+ "( p#$.e' #"/e T!$"#$(d2 4e* *!e4 p%<e.*
*!e"% :( d"'e$'e' (* *!e% pep#e. T!e :e## /(:(
!"'*%4 3 .!"#d %$p"'*' "( *!e .!,%.! "' <,'* $(*!e%
e0$+p#e 3 *!"'. S+e 3 *!e"% &".*"+' $%e e&e( 4,(1
)4'. T!e'e pep#e $%e 'ee/"(1 pe%&e%*ed 1%$*"7.$*"( 3
'"./ #,'*'2 (* +$%%"$1e2 $(d 4e* *!e4 p"(* *!e 7(1e% *
<,d1e e$%#4 +$%%"$1e' "( *!e% '."e*"e'. T!e !4p.%"'4 "'
$+$E"(1. I3 *!e P%p!e* !$d )ee( $ .!"#d +#e'*e%2 !e
:,#d'&e *$,1!* *!e M,'#"+' * )e .!"#d +#e'*e%'. B,*
#/ $%,(d2 :! "' d"(1 *!e +$<%"*4 3 *!e .!"#d
+#e'*"(1 *d$4I I* de7("*e#4 de'('* 'ee+ * )e *!e
M,'#"+'. W!e%e $%e *!e'e pep#e 1e**"(1 *!"' 3%+I I*
de7("*e#4 "'('* .+"(1 3%+ M,!$++$d'' e0$+p#e.
IV. MUHAMMAD'S OTHER MARRIAGES
T!e%e :$' $ '"+"#$% '"*,$*"( :"*! !"' :"3e J$4($)2 :!
:$' .!'e( * )e !"' :"3e )4 $ &e%'e "( *!e K,%'$(. Ehere is
no evidence that Muhammad ever had a :edd"(1 .e%e+(42
*: :"*(e''e'2 or any of the normal traditions that go along
with his marriage to Aisha. <he simply became his wife by ?od's
decree. Tnder normal circumstances of marriage, there are many
reAuirements such as a dowery, two witnesses, a marriage
ceremony, etc.
Aisha was the third wife of the 9rophet, and she went to live with
him towards the end of his life, nine years from his death at age
DL. $an a man who lived his whole life married to women of
average ages, some even older than he was, all of a sudden be
called a pedophile in the last nine years of his life just because
one of his wives is considered to be younger than usualO > don't
thin so.
>n addition to this, Muhammad made it clear that his favorite wife
of all time was his *rst wife Phadijah, who was (J years older
than him when he married her when was .J years old, and he
remained married to her and only her for over twenty years until
her death when he was MD. !oes this sound lie the behavior of a
pedophileO @o. :e explicitly told Aisha that Phadijah was better
than her and that ?od hadn't sent him a woman better than
Phadijah.
V. MARITAL NORMS IN THE BIBLE
>f anyone would lie to dispute the facts of this scenario, let's tae
an analogy from another religious marriage: Adam and =ve. !id
Adam marry =veO 'as there a weddingO !id he proposeO +r did
?od create and select =ve speci*cally for AdamO +f course, Adam
had no choice in the matter. ?od had %d$"(ed that she would be
his wife. Muhammad and Aisha's situation is similar.
@ow, let's compare Muhammad's revelation informing him that
Aisha was his wife to yet another prophet. Abraham received
revelation in his dream informing him that he was commanded to
sacri*ce his son >shmael. !id he have a choiceO @o. :e submitted
to the command. Ehe story is similar with Muhammad.
<ubmission to ?od is the essence of >slam. >f a man can attempt
to sacri*ce his son by ?od's command, he can also get married by
?od's command. 'e don't hear %ews and $hristians calling
Abraham a butcher or a bloodthirsty murderer.
'ho can condemn him if he was eager to marry the wife that ?od
chose for himO !o the $hristians and %ews even now the ages of
their prophets' wives to be judges of MuhammadO !oes anybody
now the age of Adam when =ve was createdO @o, nobody nows
and nobody cares. Ehe only reason this topic is even addressed is
because the non,Muslims wish to slander the character of the
9rophet Muhammad, while hypocritically using double standards
for themselves. Ehe lac of information on the topic doesn't mae
them superior, but it does show that the Muslims have superior
preservation of their sources down to the smallest level of detail.
>f the orientalists claim that Muhammad su7ered from pedophilia,
they have a bigger problem. Ehe %ews and $hristians have no
moral grounds to critici4e the Muslims on this topic. ;ebeah was
L years old when she married >saac #according to the writings of
the great %ewish scholar ;ashi on ?enesis ..:.N,L.&
Also, read the :ebrew text of ?enesis .M:JC, BmenitahB X Bto
sucB. ;ebeah had a wet nurse who lived with her when she
married >saac, clearly indicating that she was still a toddler.
>saac was L7 when ;ebeah was born #according to the great
%ewish scholar ;ashi& because he married after <arah died at (.7
#?en .L:(,.& and she was CN at >saac's birth #?enesis (7:(7&. ?en
.J:.N, >saac was MN when he married ;ebeah.
Additionally, the Ealmud allows %ewish priests to marry L year old
girls according to *%$.*$*e Ye)$+*! B0) "( *!e B$)4#("$(
T$#+,d and even today the %ews are considered adults at
thirteen according to the "ar Mit4vah traditions #which is a
numerical standard based o7 typical ages for puberty, which is
the >slamic biological standard for adulthood&. <o, if the %ews and
$hristians slander Muhammad, they are in actuality slandering
their own forefathers according to their own standards because
>saac is the father of %acob, the patriarch of the $hristians and
%ews. >f they say that Muhammad is a pedophile, then they must
logically say the same of their forefathers, prophets, and priests.
8astly, we need to compare the marriage of Muhammad to Aisha
to another religious *gure. @ow that his marriage has been
compared to Adam and =ve and >saac and ;ebeah, let's also
compare Aisha to the Iirgin Mary. > can only wonder if the
$hristians would be so accusatory if information became available
which showed that Mary was the same age as Aisha during her
pregnancy with %esusO > wonder if they would then bactrac, full
of apologies, double standards, excuses, and exceptionsO ?od
nows best.
'hat's interesting is that the type of thining which insists that
Muhammad must have been a pedophile, is the same type of
thining which the %ews used to insist that the Iirgin Mary
must've been an adulteress. >f a woman gets pregnant and the
husband isn't the father or she gets pregnant before marriage,
they assume she committed adultery without looing deeper into
the facts of the issue or taing into consideration the character of
the person and their holy status. >f it were up to these people, the
mother of %esus would've been stoned to death by the %ews.
<imilarly, if a man marries a young woman they assume he
su7ers from pedophilia or is a child molestor without looing
deeper into the facts of the issue.
'e don't now for sure the age of Mary, but >'m sure that they'd
certainly have a di7erent tone if the tables were turned. 'hat we
can say for sure is that if a virgin getting pregnant is possible by
the will of ?od, then it's certainly believable that ?od can also
decree that Aisha was to be Muhammad's wife. Mary had no
choice in the matter once she became pregnant by ?od's
command. Ehe marriage of Aisha was a similar case. T!"' "' *!e
#e''(: :!e( Gd "' "(&#&ed2 *!e (%+' .$( )e .!$(1ed
$(d e&e%4d$4 '*$(d$%d' d('* $#:$4' $pp#4. 'hether it is
the miracle of Moses splitting the ;ed <ea, or %esus raising the
dead, when holy people and prophets are involved in controversy,
it is best not to pass judgement or you will fail the test of moral
purity and intellectual humility as the %ews failed with respect to
the Iirgin Mary.
8et's loos at the circumstances of Mary's marriage to %oseph and
the birth of %esus from Matthew (:(K,.J:
@ow the birth of %esus $hrist was as follows: when :is mother
Mary had been )e*%*!ed * >'ep!, )e3%e *!e4 .$+e
*1e*!e% '!e :$' 3,(d * )e :"*! .!"#d )4 *!e H#4 Sp"%"*.
And >'ep! !e% !,')$(d, being a righteous man and not
wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly.
"ut when he had considered this, behold, $( $(1e# 3 *!e L%d
$ppe$%ed * !"+ "( $ d%e$+, saying, Y%oseph, son of !avid, d
(* )e $3%$"d * *$/e M$%4 $' 4,% :"3e- for the $hild who has
been conceived in her is of the :oly <pirit.
YS!e :"## )e$% $ S(D $(d 4, '!$## .$## H"' ($+e >e','2 3%
He :"## '$&e H"' pep#e 3%+ *!e"% '"('.Z
@ow all this too place to ful*ll what was spoen by the 8ord
through the prophet:
Y"=:+8!, E:= I>;?>@ <:A88 "= '>E: $:>8! A@! <:A88 "=A; A
<+@, A@! E:=G <:A88 $A88 :>< @AM= >MMA@T=8,Z which
translated means, Y?+! '>E: T<.Z
And >'ep! $:/e 3%+ !"' '#eep $(d d"d $' *!e $(1e# 3
*!e L%d .++$(ded !"+2 $(d */ Mary $' !"' :"3e ,
but /ep* !e% $ &"%1"( ,(*"# '!e 1$&e )"%*! * $ S(- and he
called :is name %esus.
@ow this passage shows us some very interesting things. Ehere
are many interesting points to this story and there is also much in
common between the marriage of %oseph and Mary and the
marriage of Muhammad and Aisha:
(& "oth %oseph and Muhammad were betrothed #or engaged& to
their wives before they actually completed the formal marriage.
Ehe time period between %oseph's betrothal and marriage isn't
stated, but sources say that Muhammad's betrothal or
engagement lasted three years, in which she remained living at
home with her parents before Aisha went to live in his house.
.& Ehe justi*cation of %oseph's marriage to his pregnant virgin wife
is the same as Muhammad's justi*cation: the command of an
angel given to him in a dream. +nly in Muhammad's case, the
circumstances would probably be more believable to the average
secular septic. Ama4ingly, the $hristians who attac the
marriage of Muhammad and Aisha never seem to want to
Auestion the surface level plausibility of the marriage of %oseph
and Mary. Ehe miraculous conception is accepted at face value as
a miracle, but when it comes to Muhammad, they assume the
very worst about his character despite the abundance of evidence
to the contrary.
'e as Muslims accept the fact that Mary was a virgin and a pious
woman who gave birth to %esus by a miracle. Ehe fact that she
was a virgin is an indication of her young age, since the %ews lie
all ancient middle eastern people married early. !uring
Muhammad's life, Aisha was his only virgin wife and even she was
about to be engaged to another man before she *nally got
engaged to Muhammad. >n ancient semitic cultures marriage
happened early in life, and marriage at puberty was normal. Ehe
%ews of %esus' time weren't an exception to this rule.
'e will not discuss all the instances of sexual immorality, incest,
or pedophilia in the "ible, but as for the "ible, marriage, and
pedophilia, we can as the Auestion: was the miracle of Mary the
virgin conception or notO >f so, %esus couldn't have been begotten
by ?od in a literal sense, because then she would no longer have
been a virgin. >f you say ?od literally begot %esus with Mary, would
you say that event would have been pedophilia and adultery
between them, since %ewish women generally married young and
she was already engaged to %osephO And if you mae this claim,
then Mary was not a virgin by this logic because what you're
implying is that she literally and physically mated with ?od. > see
refuge with ?od, glori*ed is :e, from ever maing such a claim.
Add"*"($##42 IL&e %e.e(*#4 )e.+e $:$%e *!$* "*L'
.++(#4 )e#"e&ed *!$* M$%4 :$' 1- 4e$%' #d :!e( '!e
1* +$%%"ed * >'ep!2 :! :$' 90 4e$%' #d. I3 *!e
C!%"'*"$( .%"*".' !$&e $ p%)#e+ :"*! M,!$++$dL'
+$%%"$1e2 d *!e4 $#' !$&e $ p%)#e+ :"*! *!e +$%%"$1e
3 >'ep! $(d M$%4I
Additionally, when Moses conAuered the 9hilistine nations in the
:oly 8and, he speci*cally gave his army the order to /"## $## *!e
$d,#* :+e( $(d '$&e *!e 4,(1 1"%#' 3% *!e+'e#&e' $'
.$p*"&e' 53% 'e0 $' .(.,)"(e'6 "( N,+)e%' M1:17;1G. And
as we stated before, the Ealmud provides the details to let us
now that these girls may have been as young as three years old.
<o, which is worse according to youO Marrying a C year old who
had reached puberty or capturing a pre,pubescent three year old
toddler as a concubineO Mae up your minds and be consistent.
9eople given commandments by dreams: Abraham was
commanded to sacri*ce his son in to the Eorah, %oseph the
husband of Mary was commanded to marry Mary in the @ew
Eestament, and Muhammad was commanded to marry Aisha
according to the hadith.
VI. OTHER FACTS
D%. A#" S!e!$*$
B>n a time when the average life expectancy was nearly half of
what it is today, and an era where *fteen and sixteen year old
youths, lie the $ompanion Tsama bin Wayd, were sometimes
made the commanders of imperial armies, the marriage of girls at
the age of puberty was not only reasonable, but in fact the norm
in most cultures around the world.B
B"ut do you mean to tell me that the man who in the full [ush of
youthful vigour, a young man of four and twenty #.M&, married a
woman much his senior, and remained faithful to her for six and
twenty years #.D&, at *fty years of age when the passions are
dying married for lust and sexual passionO @ot thus are man's
lives to be judged. And you loo at the women whom he married,
you will *nd that by every one of them an alliance was made for
his people, or something was gained for his followers, or the
woman was in sore need of protection.B , !r. Annie "esant
<tatistics on the 9rophet's Marriages
B+f all his marriages, the majority, *ve, were to widows older than
LD years of age at the time of marriage #ages MN, JN, LK, LD
respectively&. All of his marriages, except two, were to widows. +f
all his marriages the longest one was to the 8ady Phadijah, which
lasted almost twenty,*ve years before her death.B
B+f the remaining few marriages, with the exception of the
marriage to 'Aisha, the brides were all between the ages of (7
and LN years of age at the time of marriage. As stated previously,
his marriage with 'Aisha was consummated only after she reached
the age of puberty, maing her an adolescent by de*nition and
not prepubescent.B
BEhe American 9sychiatric Association further de*nes a pedophile
as: a person who over at least a D month period has recurrent,
intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors
involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child.B , !iagnostic
and <tatistical Manual of Mental !isorders, Mth =dition, American
9sychiatric Association. (CCM
'as it Tnusual for Aisha to ;each 9uberty at @ineO
According to a (CC7 landmar study published in the medical
journal 9ediatrics, nearly JN\ of African,American girls and (J\
of $aucasian American girls begin to develop breasts and or pubic
hair by age eight]
Modern 9uberty >nformation
American Academy of 9ediatrics #AA9& de*nes puberty as Bthe
time in your life when your body changes from that of a child to
that of an adult.B
+ne of these changes in women is the onset of menstruation, and
according to the AA9, BMost girls 5*rst6 get their periods between
C and (D years of age.B
+ther Marriage )acts
Ealmudic law *xed the legal age for contracting marriage at
puberty.
Ehe prevailing marriageable age for girls in =urope during the
;enaissance was twelve years.
)urthermore, marriages were often celebrated among =uropeans
until well into the (7th century between persons who had
not yet achieved puberty, as was also true in >ndia until very
recent times^
Maryland <tate 8aw in (CKK:
de*nes statutory, or second,degree, rape as sex with a
child younger than age fourteen by someone four or
more years older. >t is punishable by .N years in prison.
but another law allows children under sixteen , with no
minimum age , to marry with parental permission and
proof of pregnancy.
$hristian Marital !octrine
Ehe $hurch set the age for marriage at puberty, when girls
reached the age of twelve and boys, the age of fourteen.
$hildren could be betrothed at seven years of age, although this
would not be binding for another *ve to seven years.
>f any marriage too place before the age of seven, the partners,
not the parents, #although it would be a di_cult tas to
separate one from the other& had to con*rm their consent
when they reached maturity.
Ehe lay authorities accepted the $hurch's doctrine on marriage,
but betrothals and marriages did occasionally take place
before the parties were seven years old(
@ot until (C(7 under the $atholic 9io,"enedictine code that the
canonical age of marriage in the church was raised to
fourteen for girls and sixteen for boys.
+ddly enough, this is not the law in many territories including
e"1!* * *e( US '*$*e' where the legal age of marriage is
still twelve for girls provided there is parental consent.
>n $hristian law, not until ((MN was the consent of a woman of
any importance in regards to the marriage contract.
=nglish $ommon 8aw
:istorically, the attitude of the =nglish common law was that a
person under 7 yrs laced the mental ability to consent to
marriage, and that between 7 yrs and puberty there could be
consent but not a consummated marriage.
At common law, therefore, the marriage of a person between
the ages of 7 and (. or (M was BinchoateB and would
become BchoateB on reaching puberty, if no objection was
raised.
BEhe common law of =ngland has been the subject of unstinted
eulogy and it is, undoubtedly, one of the most splendid
embodiments of human genius. >t is a source of profound
satisfaction to $atholics that it came into being as a de*nite
system and was nurtured, and to a great extent
administered, during the *rst ten centuries of its existence
by the clergy of the $atholic $hurch.B , $atholic =ncyclopedia
VII. SOURCES
essay by <heih >mran :osein:
http:QQwww.imranhosein.orgQfaAQJK,women,in,islamQ.C(,
what,was,the,age,of,aisha,when,she,was,married,please,
comment,on,her,age.html
essay by Ab` >mHn Abd ar,;ahmHn ;obert <Auires:
http:QQwww.scribd.comQdocQD(.7NLMQ;efutation,+f,Ehe,
9rophets,Marriage,Eo,Aishah,9olemic
presentation by !r. Ali <hehata: http:QQwww.youtube.comQwatchO
vXEGp:LR8NiCwalistX98)DD!K)C=!"NM7N$!aindexX(.afe
atureXplppbvideo
hadith from <ahih "uhari
de*nitions from +xford American !ictionaries
de*nitions from Merriam,'ebster