Muhammad Issues:
Aisha & Child Marriage
Question: Did Muhammad marry Aisha at the age of six and was the marriage consummated when Aisha was nine?
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Overview
Sahih al-Bukhari (3894, 3896, 5133, 5134 & 5158) and Sunan Abi Dawud (2121 - Graded: Sahih) state that Muhammad married Aisha at the age of six/seven and the marriage was consummated when Aisha was nine. Muhammad was approximately fifty-four when the marriage consummation took place.
Sahih Muslim (1422c) and Sunan an-Nasa'i (3378 - Graded: Sahih) comment that Aisha was in the possession of dolls when she was taken to Muhammad’s home for the marriage consummation. Sahih al-Bukhari (6130) likewise says that Aisha played with dolls and a scholarly commentary adds that this allowance was given to Aisha because she was a little girl and had not reached the age of puberty. The provision given to Aisha to play with dolls (which is forbidden in Islam for those above the age of puberty) shows that Aisha was pre-pubescent when the marriage consummation took place. It should be noted that the Quran (33:49 & 65:4) allows a man to marry, consummate and divorce a girl before the age of puberty.
Sahih al-Bukhari (3895 & 5125) narrates that Muhammad instigated his marriage with Aisha because Aisha had been promised to him in a dream. Sahih al-Bukhari (5081) also states that Abu Bakr (Aisha’s father and Muhammad’s close companion) was startled and somewhat reluctant to agree to the marriage when Muhammad proposed the idea.
These details about Muhammad's life are significant because the Quran (33:21) presents Muhammad as an excellent example of moral conduct and instructs Muslims to follow his example and lifestyle. This does not mean that Muslims are required to follow Muhammad in every particular. Rather, it means that the things Muhammad did and said can be used to determine what is allowed (halal) or forbidden (haram) for Muslims. This includes whom it is appropriate to marry and have sex with.
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Quran Passages & Hadith Narrations - Aisha & Child Marriage
The Quran 33:21 (Abdul Haleem)
(21) The Messenger of God is an excellent model for those of you who put your hope in God and the Last Day and remember Him often.
The Quran 33:21 (Mohsin Khan)
(21) Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad SAW) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.
The Quran 33:49 (Abdul Haleem)
(49) Believers, you have no right to expect a waiting period when you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them: make provision for them and release them in an honourable way.
The Quran 33:49 (Mohsin Khan)
(49) O you who believe! When you marry believing women, and then divorce them before you have sexual intercourse with them, no 'Iddah [divorce prescribed period, see (V.65:4)] have you to count in respect of them. So give them a present, and set them free i.e. divorce, in a handsome manner.
The Quran 65:4 (Abdul Haleem)
(4) If you are in doubt, the period of waiting will be three months for those women who have ceased menstruating and for those who have not [yet] menstruated; the waiting period of those who are pregnant will be until they deliver their burden: God makes things easy for those who are mindful of Him.
The Quran 65:4 (Mohsin Khan)
(4) And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubts (about their periods), is three months, and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise, except in case of death]. And for those who are pregnant (whether they are divorced or their husbands are dead), their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is until they deliver (their burdens), and whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.
Sahih al-Bukhari, 3894
Narrated Aisha: The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became Allright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age.
Sahih al-Bukhari, 3895
Narrated `Aisha: That the Prophet said to her, "You have been shown to me twice in my dream. I saw you pictured on a piece of silk and some-one said (to me). 'This is your wife.' When I uncovered the picture, I saw that it was yours. I said, 'If this is from Allah, it will be done."
Sahih al-Bukhari, 3896
Narrated Hisham's father: Khadija died three years before the Prophet departed to Medina. He stayed there for two years or so and then he married `Aisha when she was a girl of six years of age, and he consumed that marriage when she was nine years old.
Sahih al-Bukhari, 5081
Narrated 'Urwa: The Prophet asked Abu Bakr for `Aisha's hand in marriage. Abu Bakr said "But I am your brother." The Prophet said, "You are my brother in Allah's religion and His Book, but she (Aisha) is lawful for me to marry."
Sahih al-Bukhari, 5125
Narrated `Aisha: Allah's Messenger said (to me), "You were shown to me in a dream. An angel brought you to me, wrapped in a piece of silken cloth, and said to me, 'This is your wife.' I removed the piece of cloth from your face, and there you were. I said to myself. 'If it is from Allah, then it will surely be.' "
Sahih al-Bukhari, 5133
Narrated `Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).
Sahih al-Bukhari, 5134
Narrated `Aisha: that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old. Hisham said: I have been informed that `Aisha remained with the Prophet for nine years (i.e. till his death).
Sahih al-Bukhari, 5158
Narrated 'Urwa: The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with `Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).
Sunan Abi Dawud, 2121 (Graded: Sahih)
Narrated 'Aishah: The Messenger of Allah married me when I was seven years old. The narrator Sulaiman said: or Six years. He had intercourse with me when I was nine years old.
Hadith Narrations - Aisha & Dolls
Sahih al-Bukhari, 6130
Narrated `Aisha: I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah's Messenger used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me. (The playing with the dolls and similar images is forbidden, but it was allowed for `Aisha at that time, as she was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty.) (Fath-ul-Bari page 143, Vol.13)
Sahih Muslim, 1422c
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.
Sunan an-Nasa'i, 3378 (Graded: Sahih)
It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah married me when I was six, and consummated the marriage with me when I was nine, and I used to play with dolls."