So many times I have heard muslims ask for Christians to use logic in their arguments. The core of the issue lies with what the
individual sees as the inspired word of God. Well I will not discuss that topic here as Peter has done so already in great detail.
I will provide links for the textual integrity discussions of both the koran and the Bible at the end of this post.
So for the sake of logic I will agree to set aside the Bible for a moment if any muslim that responds to this will set aside the
koran. We will discuss certain actions by Muhammad using logic not verses.
Can any muslim put this hadith into a logical context that makes it seem less horrible than it is?
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married me when I was six years old, and I
was admitted to his house when I was nine years old. Muslim 8. 3310
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). Bukhari 7. 62. 64
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)." what you know
of the Quran (by heart)' Bukhari 7. 62. 65
Narrated 'Ursa: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). Bukhari 7. 62. 88
Before any response I will offer refutation for the more popular arguments.
1."It was culturally acceptable at the time."
Well to start just because something is considered culturally acceptable does not make it so. Slavery was once culturally
acceptable in the U.S. but it doesn't mean it is or ever was right. Furthermore muslims often try to take the moral high ground by
sayin Islam got rid of the deplorable action of burying infant girls in Arabia. Even though this action was condemned culturally
even in pre-Islamic Arabia the point is we see from Islam itself that a culturally acceptable action is not always morally
acceptable.
2."It was a political move on the part of Muhammed to win favor with her powerful father."
The biggest problem with this argument is borne out in a later hadith.
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." Bukhari 7.62.18
We see that her father was already a devoted follower of Muhammad and since he gave his consent we see that he believed in
everything that Muhammad said. Furthermore and much more to the point a political marraige does not mean one has to consumate it.
Especially in such an extreme circumstance. Muhammad could have waited until she became a proper age. Solomon made thousands of
political marraiges but whether he slept with them all may stretch ones own physical boundaries.
3."A'isha's father asked Muhammad to marry her."
Well again the hadith itself disputes this. In fact the latter hadith directly above this refutation shows not only Muhammad
proposing the marriage but also the initial shock of the father. So no more weight can be given to this argument. Moving on.
4."A'isha consented to the marraige and consumation."
The absurdity of this argument stands as a witness to itself. No 9 year old girl can make such an informed decision. Which is why
many civilized countries have age limits on consumption of alcohol, driving requirements, marraige and especially sexual
intercourse. Ever heard of statutory rape. We realized at some point that a girl still playing with her dolls cannot be mentally
mature enough to make such decisions. In fact we find that to be the case here in the following hadiths.
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 Apostle
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.) (Fateh-al-Bari page 143, Vol.13) Bukhari 8. 73.151
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. Bukhari 5.234
So if these are the best arguments you can bring to the discussion of this topic do not waste the space needed to post honest new
refutations. If you do have a new one I will be glad to respond or put you in contact with one who can much better than I. Here is
a link to a guy who will offer you 50,000 if you can refute His claims
http://www.faithfreedom.org/challenge.htm . If you can
logically put this hadith into context without metaphysical arguments that will make it less horrible than it is please do so. I
only made such a big deal out of the issue of logic in arguments like this because I feel logic is the one of the biggest things
Islam is lacking in.
Here is the links discussing the textual integrity of the koran and Bible.
http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=96.0http://www.islamchristianforum.com/index.php?topic=97.0God bless
