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Through the centuries, orientalists have advance numerous
accusations and far-fetched theories to discredit Islam and its last
Prophet, Muhammad (P). Praise be to Allah alone, all such accusations have
been successfully refuted by the Muslims Ummah. Currently, one of the
'reinvented' accusations against the noble character of the Prophet is about
his marriage to young Aisha Siddiqa (r.a.).
Let's probe some of the orientalists' charges in detail in the light of
modern research, historic evidence and the Islamic sources of the Qur'an and
the Sunnah to separate truth from falsehood, and display to the world that
Prophet Muhammad (P) is indeed an exemplary for all of mankind.
Two main theories are often advance by orientalists to attack the pure
character of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on his marriage to Aisha (r.a.) at her
young age.
A. He was a Pedophile
B. B. He was involved in child abuse.
Let's analyze each theory to dig out the truth, through the Guidance of
Allah (SWT).
A. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) married Aisha (r.a.) because he was a pedophile?
Definition of a Pedophile: "Pedophile: also spelled PAEDOPHILIA,
psychosexual disorder in which an adult's arousal and sexual gratification
occur primarily through sexual contact with prepubescent children. The
typical pedophile is unable to find satisfaction in an adult sexual
relationship and may have low self-esteem, seeing sexual activity with a
child as less threatening than that with an adult." Encyclopaedia
Britannica, 1998.
The diagnostic criteria for pedophilia according to American Psychiatric
Association:
1) Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent intense sexual urges and
sexual arousing fantasies involving sexual activity with a prepubescent
child or children.
2) The person has acted on these urges, or is markedly distressed by them.
3) The person is at least 16 years old and at least 5 years older than the
child or children in A.
DSM-III-R Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, rev ed. 3,
(American Psychiatric Association). "In addition to their pedophilia, a
significant number of pedophiles are concomitantly or have previously been
involved in exhibitionism, voyeurism, or rape". (Voyeurism is the recurrent
preoccupation with fantasized or acts that involve seeking out or observing
people who are naked, or are engaged in grooming or in sexual activity).
Harold I. Kaplan et al., Synopsis of Psychiatry, 5th ed. (Williams and
Wilkens, 1988), p. 360.
Does the prophet fit the above criteria of a pedophile?
With the above criteria of a pedophile in mind, lets analyze the lifestyle
of the prophet and his marriages.
His marriages:
Name of Bride/ Bride's age at marriage/ Comments
Khadija bint khawilad/ 40/ Twice widowed before
Sauda Bint Zama/ 50/ Widow
Aisha bint Abu Bakr/ 9/ Started living with the prophet at the age of 9.
Hafsa Bint Umar bin Khattab/ 22/ Widow
Zainab bint Khuzaima/ 30/ ?
Umm-I-Salma bint Abu Umayia/ 26/ Widow
Zainab Bint Jahash/ 38/ Widow
Juwaeria Bint Harith/ 20/ Widow
Umm-I-Habiba bint Abu Sufyan/ 36/ Widow
Marya Qibtiya bint Shamun/ 17/ Virgin, Egyptian
Safia bint Hayi bin Akhtab/ 17/ Widow
Raihana bint umru bin hanafa/ ?/ ?
Maimuna bint harith/ 36/ widow
Source: Syed Abu Zafar Zain, The Prophet of Islam, the Ideal Husband
(Lahore: Kazi Publications), pp. 10-12.
Statistics from the above table:
Percentage of his wives who were 17 years and older = 91 %
Percentage of his wives who were widows = 75%
Comments: The statistics show that the prophet's marriage to Aisha at her
young age was an exception and not a norm of his other marriages.
Furthermore "a pedophile’s main mode of sexual satisfaction is with
prepubescent girls", which is contradictory to the 91% of prophet's marriage
to women 17 years and over. An unbiased examination of Prophet's life and
his marriages to his wives blatantly rejects the notion of his lifestyle
fitting that of a pedophile. All his brides were aged widows (except Aisha
and Marya). Moreover, according to the criteria in the references cited
above in Synopsis of Psychiatry, a vast majority of pedophiles possess a
history of exhibitionism, voyeurism, or rape. Again, there is no single
reference from either religious or secular sources that the noble Prophet
ever indulged in such sadistic behavior (God forbid). This truth is observed
and accepted by both Muslims and unbiased non-Muslims scholars.
"It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great
Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel
anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers
of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things
which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a
new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian
teacher." Annie Besant, The Life and Teachings of Muhammad (Madras, 1932),
p. 4.
B. Others claim that the noble Prophet (peace be upon him) indulged in
child-abuse when he married Aisha at her young age
Let scrutinize this allegation...
Definition of Child Abuse: Child Abuse, also called CRUELTY TO CHILDREN, the
willful and unjustifiable infliction of pain and suffering on children. The
term can denote the use of inordinate physical violence; unjustifiable
verbal abuse; the failure to furnish proper shelter, nourishment, medical
treatment, or emotional support; incest; other cases of sexual molestation
or rape; and the making of child pornography. Frequently described by the
medical profession as the "battered-child syndrome," abusive treatment of
children is almost universally proscribed by criminal statutes. Child abuse
can have serious future consequences for the victims involved. Delays in
physical growth, impaired language and cognitive abilities, and problems in
personality development, learning, and behavior are common following
instances of child abuse or neglect. Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1998
Comments: None of the criteria of child-abuse applies to the noble life of
the Prophet (pbuh). There is no single incident of any infliction of pain
and suffering by the prophet on Aisha or any other human being for that
matter. Neither any instance of verbal or sexual abuse can be concluded from
the relationship of the prophet with Aisha (r.a.) or any of his wives.
An abused child can have serious future consequences...delayed physical
growth, impaired language, learning and behavior...etc (above definition).
As one examines the chaste life of Aisha (r.a.), her personality, physical,
mental and spiritual developments are all contrary to that of an abused
child. In fact through the Prophet's marriage and his guidance to Aisha,
history testifies that she should be labeled not as an abused child but as a
'blessed child'. After analyzing and refuting the accusations against the
noble character of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the only viable
alternative left with us is:
C. The Prophet married Aisha for the benefit of Islam and Humanity
Lets analyse...
1. The Prophet married Aisha primarily for three reasons
a. To reinforce the friendly relations already existing with Abu Bakr (his
closest companion).
b. To educate and train Aisha for the purposes of Islam.
c. To utilize her capabilities for the sake of Islam.
2. Her Marriage with the prophet was a Wahy (Divine Revelation). She,
herself relates from the Prophet. "He said, 'I saw you in dreams three
times. The angel brought you to me and you were clad in white silk. He (the
angel) said that it was your consort and he (angel) showed me by opening
your face. You are just like that..." Sahih Muslim, Vol.2, p. 285.
3. Aisha (r.a.) was born after her parents had embraced Islam. Therefore,
she was free from the defilement of polytheism right from her birth.
4. In her youth, already known for her formidable memory, she came under the
loving care and attention of the Prophet himself. As his wife and close
companion she acquired from him knowledge and insight such as no woman has
ever acquired.
Aisha lived on almost fifty years after the passing away of the Prophet. She
had been his wife for a decade. Much of this time was spent in learning and
acquiring knowledge of the two most important sources of God's guidance, the
Qur'an and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Aisha (r.a.) was one of the three
wives (the other two being Hafsa (r.a.) and Umm Salama (r.a.) who memorised
the Revelation. Like Hafsa (r.a.), she had her own script of the Qur'an
written after the Prophet had died.
So far as the Hadith or sayings of the Prophet is concerned, Aisha (r.a.) is
one of four persons (the others being Abu Hurayra, Abdullah ibn Umar, and
Anas ibn Malik) who transmitted more than two thousand sayings. From her,
2210 Hadith have come, out of which 174 Hadith are commonly agreed upon by
both Bukhari and Muslim.
Many of her transmissions pertain to some of the most intimate aspects of
personal behavior that only someone in Aisha's position could have learnt.
What is most important is that her knowledge of Hadith was passed on in
written form by at least three persons including her nephew Urwah who became
one of the greatest scholars among the generation after the Companions. It
is the claim of the Scholars of Islam that without her, half of the
Ilm-I-Hadith [knowledge, understanding of the Hadith (and Islam)] would have
perished.
5. Many of the learned companions of the Prophet and their followers
benefited from Aishah's knowledge. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari once said: "If we
companions of the Messenger of God had any difficulty on a matter, we asked
Aisha about it."
"Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from Said ibn
al-Musayyab that Abu Musa al-Ash'ari came to Aisha, the wife of the Prophet
and said to her, "The disagreement of the companions in a matter which I
hate to bring before you has distressed me." She said, "What is that? You
did not ask your mother about it, so ask me." He said, "A man penetrates his
wife, but becomes listless and does not ejaculate. "She said, "When the
circumcised part passes the circumcised part ghusl is obligatory." Abu Musa
added, "I shall never ask anyone about this after you. Al-Muwatta of Imam
Malik, Hadith 2.75.
Arwa Bin Zubair says, "I did not find anyone more proficient [than Aisha
(r.a.)] in the knowledge of the Holy Qur'an, the Commandments of Halal
(lawful) and Haram (prohibited), Ilmul-Ansab and Arabic poetry. That is why,
even senior companions of the Prophet used to consult Aisha (r.a.) in
resolving intricate issued". Ibn Qayyim and Ibn Sa'ad, Jala-ul-Afham, vol.
2, p. 26.
Abu Musa al-Ash'ari says: "Never had we (the companions) had any difficulty
for the solution of which we approached Aisha and did not get some useful
information from her". Sirat-I-Aisha, on the authority of Trimidhi, p. 163.
6. As a teacher she had a clear and persuasive manner of speech and her
power of oratory has been described in superlative terms by al-Ahnaf who
said: "I have heard speeches of Abu Bakr and Umar, Uthman and Ali and the
Khulafa up to this day, but I have not heard speech more persuasive and more
beautiful from the mouth of any person than from the mouth of Aisha."
The Prophet said, "The superiority of 'Aisha to other ladies is like the
superiority of Tharid (i.e. meat and bread dish) to other meals. Many men
reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such a level except
Mary, the daughter of Imran and Asiya, the wife of Pharaoh." Sahih
Al-Bukhari Hadith, Narrated by Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari Hadith 4.643.
7. Men and women came from far and wide to benefit from her knowledge.
Aisha's great interest in the study of the Qur'an is understandable. She was
an eyewitness to a number of revelations and had therefore a clear idea of
the circumstances in which they were revealed. It was on her bed alone (and
no other consort's) that the Prophet received Wahy (Divine Revelations)
several times. This helped her in interpreting the verses.
8. At the time of the Prophet's death, the Prophet's head was on her lap. It
was in her quarters that the Prophet was buried. The life of Aisha (R) is a
proof that a woman can be far more learned than men and that she can be the
teacher of scholars and experts. Her life is also a proof that a woman can
exert influence over men and women and provide them with inspiration and
leadership. Aisha (R) is a continuing inspiration and role model to today's
youth who are diligently searching for an example amongst the pop stars,
movie actresses and sports stars. May the memory of her live-forever in the
heart of the Muslim Ummah and May Allah grant her the highest abode in
Paradise...Ameen.
Conclusion
It was the aforementioned qualities of Aisha (r.a.) and the Prophet's
guidance in molding these capabilities for the service of Islam, were the
main reasons, why the Prophet Married young Aisha (r.a.), and not the
perverted reasons brought forth by misguided orientalists.
Muslims invite all sincere humans to study the life of Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon) in the light of the authentic sources of the Qur'an and the
Sunnah (exemplary sayings and deeds of the Prophet) and judge for themselves
where the truth lies. Indeed, by recognizing the truth of Islam as the final
and complete Guidance sent by our Creator can humanity find lasting peace in
this world and a means of salvation from the hell fire in the hereafter. "I
have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an
anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a
man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would
succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed
peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it
would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be
acceptable to the Europe of today." George Bernard Shaw, The Genuine Islam,
vol. 1, no. 81936.
Though, the Prophet is not among us in his flesh, but his exemplary life has
been preserved for all humanity to follow. When Truth comes Falsehood
disappears, Islam came, now Shirk (polytheism) must clear.
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