Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Question No. 9294 : i have asked about the reasons of His marriage (saw) from Aisha ( 9 years )7 days ago .. & i did n`t recieve any answers , cuz a lot of christian ask about that ... & my reply for that : `` About his marriage with Aisha ( swa ) ; it was an old arabic habit to marry the man his friend ` his daughter` to increase the connection between them & Abo-bkr ( father of Aisa& the most friend to prophet ` Mohamed` ) had n`t any girl without marriage in these days except his daughter `Aisha` .& also the daughter of arabs in these ancient days( 1400 years ago , take into consideration the difference in health & fitness of womens) were used to marry at a small age & so it was . Allah Almighty knows best. so if u have better answer .. send it ... to content them with it , jazak Allah

khairn w/salam

 (There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Why Prophet Married Aisha (r.a.) young

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

It has indeed been accurately reported that the Messenger of Allah (saws) married Hadrat Aisha (r.a.) when she was 6 years of age, and the marriage was consummated when Hadrat Aisha (r.a.) reached the age of puberty at nine.

Whatever the noble Messenger of Allah (saws) did and said, there is a perfect explanation and a valid reason; as everything the Prophet (saws) did and said was done under the direct guidance of the All Knowing, All Wise, Allah Subhanah!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzab verse 21:

There is indeed the best example for you to follow, in the Messenger of Allah, for every such person looks forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 7 Surah Aaraat verse 157:

(So, now mercy has been assigned to those) who follow this Messenger, the Gentile Prophet, whose mention they shall find in the Torah and the Gospel with them. He enjoins them to do good and forbids them from evil; he makes pure things lawful for them and impure things unlawful; he relieves them of their burdens and frees them from the shackles (of rites and rituals) that bound them. For this reason, those alone who believe in him, support him, succour him, and follow the Light that has been sent down with him shall attain true ‘success’.

The life of the Messenger of Allah (saws) is to be an example for the believers until the end of time. Amongst the duties and responsibilities that comes with the appointment of Prophethood is that the Prophet (saws) enjoins what is good and forbid what is evil, he (saws) makes pure things lawful for the believers and impure things unlawful, he (saws) relieves the believers of the burden the society has unlawfully put upon them with their man-made laws, etc.

Sometimes the man-made social laws are so established and so overpowering that it is inconceivable for man to go against them; and it is specially in these circumstances that the Prophet (saws) is commanded to lead by example and break the illegal social laws and customs which are established in society, so that there remains absolutely no doubt regarding the lawful and unlawful.

If one studies the various marriage of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and the circumstances and conditions in which they were accomplished, one would get a picture of how the example is set by the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself so that there remains no doubt in the minds of the believers after him.

The first marriage of Prophet Mohamed (saws) was formalized with Hadrat Khadijah (r.a.), who was a widow and about 15 years older than him. That set an universal and timeless example for the believers until the end of time that it is absolutely legal and permissible for them to marry a woman who is a widow, or to marry a woman who is much older than the man in age.

Another illegally established man-made social custom and law which was challenged by Islam was the marriage of a man to the divorced wife of his adopted son! In the days of ignorance, when a man adopted a son, all the social laws of inheritance, becoming a mehram, marriage, etc. were levied upon the adopted son exactly as if the son was born from the loins of the man or woman. But Islam made a clear distinction between one who is born from one’s loins and one who is adopted; and to break this illegal and established social custom and law, Allah Subhanah commanded the Prophet (saws) to marry the divorced wife of his adopted son, Hadrat Zayd ibn Haritha (r.a.). One can only imagine the chaos, criticism, and ridicule the ignorant amongst the then society would have heaped on this act of the Prophet (saws).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verses 36-39:

36 It is not fitting for a Believer man or woman when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.

37 Behold! Thou (O Prophet) didst say to one who had received the grace of Allah and thy favor (Zayd): "Retain thou (in wedlock) thy wife (Zainab) and fear Allah." But thou didst hide in thy heart that which Allah was about to make manifest: thou didst fear the people but it is more fitting that thou shouldst fear Allah. Then when Zaid had dissolved (his marriage) with her with the necessary (formality), We joined her in marriage to thee: in order that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them: and Allah's command must be fulfilled.

38 There can be no difficulty to the Prophet in what Allah has indicated to him as a duty. It was the practice (approved) of Allah amongst those of old that have passed away and the command of Allah is a decree determined.

39 (It is the practice of those) who preach the Messages of Allah and fear Him and fear none but Allah: and enough is Allah to call (men) to account.

Such was the severity of the illegal social impermissibility for a man to marry the divorced wife of his adopted son, that the Messenger of Allah (saws) feared that the disbelievers, who never missed an opportunity to ridicule and challenge his Message, would make a huge hue and cry about this marriage of the Prophet (saws). Such was the social opposition, that Allah Subhanah revealed the above verses of the Quran and Declared that ‘We (Allah) joined her (Zainab) in marriage to thee (O Prophet): in order that (in future) there may be no difficulty to the Believers in (the matter of) marriage with the wives of their adopted sons when the latter have dissolved with the necessary (formality) (their marriage) with them!’

If some people are unable to understand or comprehend or accept the wisdom behind every deed of the Messenger of Allah (saws); the ignorance and short-coming of wisdom is in the person’s mind, not in the deed of the noble Messenger of Allah (saws)!

The man-made laws today allows a girl to choose to marry anyone of her choice, only after she reaches a particular age of 18 or 21 or whatever! Who chose this age? What is the wisdom behind choosing this age? Why 18 or 21, why not 25 or 12? Some might say 18 is too young? Some might argue 18 is too old? Some might say this and some might say that? Who has the right to decide?

In Islam, the believers have submitted their will to the Will of their Lord in every aspect of their life. Allah is He Who Created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists in between, and He Created everything to Absolute Perfection! There is absolutely no flaw or error in any of His Creation! The same Allah created man, and He it is, Who gave mankind its nature. Thus, He has a bigger right that He Decree what is allowed and prohibited in the life of His creatures. And Allah it is, Who has declared it legal and permissible for a believer to seek a woman in marriage, regardless of her age!

The issue with some people today is that whenever the un-godly world makes a law or regulation, they humbly accept and submit to it! But when Allah and His Messenger (saws) decree a law or regulation, they have a problem with it!!!!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 33 Surah Ahzaab verse 36:

36 It is not fitting for a Believer man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His Messenger, to have any option about their decision: if anyone disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother and sincere well wisher in Islam,

Burhan