Question:-
How should we respond to non Muslims and Muslims who claim that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم married a minor?
Answer:-
This objection raised by the Kuffar is to tarnish the reputation of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. They are creating a false impression that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was merely concerned with fulfilling his lustful desires and therefore, married a number of times, to the extent that he married a minor (Allah forbid!). This was never the objective of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. His marriages to multiple spouses were on the basis of compassion for them, and to unite the various tribes of the Arabs.
When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam got married for the very first time, to Hadhrat Khadija Radiallahu Anha, he was 25 years of age and well-known for his purity, chastity and piety amongst the Arabs. He never married again for as long as Hadrat Khadija Radiallahu Anha remained alive, whereas the custom of polygamy was common amongst the Arabs at the time. These people that intend defaming Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam should find out the reason for his marriages. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam never remarried until the age of 55, whereas one is overpowered with lust and desires during his younger days, yet he sufficed with one wife at the time.
When the Quraish gathered and addressed him, they said, “If you should stop talking evil of our deities, then we will make you our leader and get you married to the most beautiful women!” He paid no attention to their request, whereas a young man, full of lust and desire, would jump at the opportunity. Even his enemies confessed that he was an embodiment of chastity and purity, hence, conjuring the impression that he was hungry to fulfil his lust and desires is an accusation against the master.
Also, in the early days of Islam, Muslim women were permitted to marry the Kuffar men, but later this was prohibited. The daughter of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was married to a disbeliever as well. A Kaafir by the name of Jubair bin Mut’im had proposed for Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha. However, Mut’im didn’t allow the marriage to take place, fearing that his son would embrace the new faith. It is only after this that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam married Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha. Again, if it was a matter of fulfilling his lust and desires, then he would have been the first one to propose for Hadhrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha.
In fact, after the demise of Hadrat Khadija Radiallahu Anha, Hadrat Khawla Radiallahu Anha, the daughter of Hakim, told Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “Aren’t you going to get married?” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Whom should I get married to?” She said, “There is a virgin and a widow. The virgin is the daughter of your most beloved friend Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu, and the widow is Sauda Bint-e-Zama Radiallahu Anha,”. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam sent Hadrat Khawla with his proposal to Umme Roomaan (wife of Abu Bakr Radiallahu Anhu) and it was accepted.
The remaining wives of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam were either widowed, or divorced, whereas Aisha Radiallahu Anha was the only virgin that he married. Due to her young age she acquired a great deal of knowledge and understanding in Deen. No other woman in the Ummat is equal to Aisha Radiallahu Anha in knowledge. After the demise of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, many senior Sahaabah would refer to her for various Masaa’il and request her opinion and Fatwa. She was able to attain this position due to her young age and being extremely close to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. It is a well-known fact that she was most beloved to Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam.
Unfortunately, many Muslims are unaware of the Masaa’il of Deen. The Kitaabs of Fiqh state that if a father gets his minor daughter married, or the paternal grandfather gets his minor granddaughter married, then the Nikah is valid.
اذا زوجهما اي الصغير والصغيرة الاب والجد فانه لا خيار لهما بعد بلوغهما (البحر الرائق ص140 ج3)
Yes, our Deen is perfect and complete and therefore every circumstance is taken into consideration. Although the Nikah of a person to a minor is valid, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the minor is capable of having relations with her husband. It is only when the minor reaches such an age when she has the ability of engaging in relations, that her husband will be permitted to have relations with her. Hadrat Aisha Radiallahu Anha got married in the month of Shawwal in the 10th year of Nabuwwat, when she was only six years old. She went to live with Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam at the age of nine, and she was widowed at the age of 18. She passed away on the 17th of Ramadaan in the 57th Hijri year, at the age of 66. [Re:- Tareekh-e-Islaah Wa Tarbiyat Pg.318 /319]
In conclusion, how unfortunate that current day Muslims (particularly those that are influenced by the West and are liberal in their thinking) raise such objections against their Nabi! Without a shadow of doubt, there is a great deal of deficiency in their Imaan. Even the Kuffar (who were enemies of Allah and His Rasul Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had conviction in the message of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. Such Muslims should sincerely repent for adopting such an attitude and strengthen their relationship with Allah and His Rasul Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. As for the Kuffar, the Quraan Sharif states that they will never be pleased until you follow their Deen, hence, there is no need to waste our valuable time debating with them in such matters. It is these very Kuffar that are perpetrators of paedophilia, child pornography, molestation and various other acts of indecency which they conveniently overlook, yet they are intent on ruining the reputation of our noble leader and master, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, who was an embodiment of purity and chastity.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 08 Shawwal 1443 / 10 May 2022
