Refuting Ali Sina: "Aisha the Child Wife of Muhammad"

[salman]

A refutation and Muslim response to Ali Sina's article, "Aisha the Child Wife of Muhammad". Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) married 'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) when she was 6-7 years old and consummated the marriage when she reached puberty and had physically matured and she was 9 years old at that time. Ali Sina's article only shows lack of honesty and intelligence. I'll critically analyze his silly arguments and expose his ignorance, inability to debate and academic dishonesty.
The readers can find his article here

Again, I personally do not recommend my fellow Muslims to visit his website!

I seek refuge in Allah Ta'ala from my nafs and the cursed Shatan. With the Name Of Allah, Ar-Rahman (The Bestower Of Mercy), Ar-Raheem (The Most Merciful), I start writing; Seeking His Help and His Blessings. I testify there is none worthy of worship except Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala and Muhammad ibn Abdullah (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa sallam - Blessings and peace be upon him) is His last and final Prophet and Messenger. He (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) was best of mankind and mercy for mankind.

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

The thought of an old man becoming aroused by a child is one of the most disturbing thoughts that makes us cringe as it reminds us of pedophilia and the most despicable people. It is difficult to accept that the Holy Prophet married Aisha when she was 6-years-old and consummated his marriage with her when she was 9. He was then, 54 years old.

Indeed, If an adult man/woman whether he is 20 years old, 30 years old or 70 years old engages in sexual activities with a child, then he/she is pedophile. However, none of you hate-mangors or your goon fans can prove that when the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) consummated the marriage with our mother, 'Aishah (radiallahu anha - May Allah be pleased with her), she was still a child; being young doesn't necessarily prove that someone's a child. We see no hesitant or any bad statement coming from the supposedly victim at any point in time in her life about her marriage to the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa sallam). She only spoke good of him and how she spent best time of her life. Now, the only lame argument you people can come up with is that she was still very young and enable to state a sound intellectual opinion. However, this immediately goes down the toilet when we learn that she became a scholar at a very young. Also, what made her say all those good things about her husband after even he had passed away and she had grew up to be a scholar?

Let the evidences speak for themselves

Evidence # 1:

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 465:
Narrated 'Aisha: (the wife of the Prophet) I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the Prophet visited us, both in the mornings and evenings. My father Abii Bakr thought of building a mosque in the courtyard of his house and he did so. He used to pray and recite the Qur'an in it. The pagan women and their children used to stand by him and look at him with surprise. Abu Bakr was a Softhearted person and could not help weeping while reciting the Quran. The chiefs of the Quraish pagans became afraid of that (i.e. that their children and women might be affected by the recitation of Quran)."

I know lots of people lack common understanding specially when they're blinded by hatred so let me break it down this hadith to make things easier for them:

'Aishah (radiallahu anha) is narrating a Makkan event. So what does this mean? It means she had reached the age of puberty before Muslims migrated to Medina

1- Marriage contract was drawn when she was 6-7 years old, approximately 1.5 years before migration to Medina
2- She attained the age of puberty when this event took place in Makkah; sometime after the marriage contract was drawn and before they migrated to Medina
3- They migrated to Medina
4- The marriage was consummated approximately 1.5 years after the migration when she was 9 years old.

Once a girl hits puberty, it typically takes abut 1-2 years before she finishes the puberty or more or less matures. Now, let's read further to find out that she in fact had physically matured before the marriage was consummated; this is from her own mouth.

Evidence # 2:
Imam Ibn kathir (May Allah have mercy on him) narrates in his Al- Bidayah wa-Nihayah:

"Imam Bukhari (May Allah have mercy on him) narrates another hadith which he heard from Farwa bin abi Almughria who heard from ali bin Masher who heard from Hisham bin 'Urawh who heard from his father who reports from 'Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her), who said: 'When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was betroth to me, I was six years old. Later, when we migrated from Makkah to Medina and stayed at bin harith bin khdhrj's place, I had grown up. My hair had got longer and I had physically matured; however, I still used to play with other girls...I was nine years old at that time."
Source Page 210-211

In conclusion, an adult man married an adult woman; therefore, there is no pedophilia or child rape or child molestation. Let's continue with the postmortem!

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

Some Muslims claim that it was Abu Bakr who approached Muhammad asking him to marry his daughter. This is of course not true and here is the proof.

Sahih Bukhari 7.18
Narrated 'Ursa:
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."

No, this is not what Muslims say; you're committing the logical fallacy: straw man! We only say that it was not the Prophet (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam), who came up with this idea and then Abu Bakr (radiallahu anho - May Allah be pelased with him) had no objection to the purposal. Why would he not marry his daughter to his best friend?

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

Arabs were a primitive lot with little rules to abide. Yet they had some code of ethics that they honored scrupulously. For example, although they fought all the year round, they abstained from hostilities during certain holy months of the year. They also considered Mecca to be a holy city and did not make war against it. A adopted son's wife was deemed to be a daughter in law and they would not marry her. Also it was customary that close friends made a pact of brotherhood and considered each other as true brothers. The Prophet disregarded all of these rules anytime they stood between him and his interests or whims.

Yes, burying your daughters alive is quite a code of ethic! This is well known that different tribes living in Makkah or around Makkah used to fight against each other. So what are you smoking by saying that they didn't make war against Makkah? Even if assume your position, then why would they make war against Makkah when they were living there? That customary brotherhood was merely based on status and power, which was later replaced by superior brotherhood that Islam brought where everyone were considered equal: rich or poor, black or white. When you or your goon fans can prove that an adopted son is a biological son then we'll discuss the adopted son issue in details. Yes, the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) destroyed the old barbaric customs and replaced them with something more eloquent and practical.

continuing...

[salman]

continuing with the refutation and Muslim response to Ali Sina's article "Aisha the child wife of Muhammad"

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

Abu Bakr and Muhammad had pledged to each other to be brothers. So according to their costoms Ayesha was supposed to be like a niece to the Holy Prophet. Yet that did not stop him to ask her hand even when she was only six years old.

This is ridiculous logic at its best! First, there was no direct or explicit 'pledge treaty' was assigned between them which would say "We're brothers and therefore..". Unless you can show us an evidence which would support your argument. Second, I don't see how one being closer friends or being part of same community make them "actual" brothers; being like brothers doesn't make you biological brothers. In Islam, Muslims are brothers of each other, so by using such logic no Muslim can get married. Because if two people are like brothers and we use this logic then person A's sister is like person B's sister and A's daughter is like B's daughter, the A's wife is like B's wife and A's brother is like B's brother and A's father is like B's father and so on. One can notice the problem and absurdity in this argument. Again, you're exposing your lack of historical knowledge, it was not the prophet who came up with this idea.

Now, read this carefully, Musnad Ahmad Hadith no 25210:

After Khadijah died, Khawlah bint Hakeem, wife of 'Uthman bin Maz'oon said: 'Wouldn't you marry, O prophet of Allah?' He said: 'Who?' She said: 'If you like, a virgin, or a previously married woman.' He said: 'Who is the virgin?' She said: 'The daughter of the most beloved creature to you, Aisha daughter of Abu Bakr.' He said: 'And who is the previously married?' She said: 'Sawda bint Zama; she believed in you and followed you, in what you say.' He said: 'So go, and mention me to them.'

Also, Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid says while commenting on the dream of the Prophet (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam) seeing 'Aishah (radiallahu anha) as his bride:

There is nothing in the hadeeth to indicate that his marriage to 'Aa'ishah was as a result of that dream. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked her father for her hand in marriage, and her father Abu Bakr gave her in marriage, in the usual fashion, as is indicated in the following hadeeth:

" 'Urwah reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked Abu Bakr for 'Aa'ishah's hand in marriage, and Abu Bakr said to him: 'But I am your brother.' He said: 'You are my brother according to the religion and Book of Allaah (i.e., my brother in Islam), and she is permissible for me (to marry)." (Bukhaari, 4691).

In his commentary Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: "Ibn Abi 'Aasim reported via Yahyaa ibn 'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Haatib from 'Aa'ishah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent Khawlah bint Hakeem to Abu Bakr to ask for 'Aa'ishah's hand in marriage. Abu Bakr asked her, 'Is she right for him? Because she is the daughter of my brother.' Khawlah went back and mentioned this to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). He told her: 'Go back and tell him: "You are my brother in Islam, and your daughter is right for me."' She went back to Abu Bakr and told him, and he said: 'Call the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).' So he came and the marriage was performed."

The phrase "You are my brother according to the religion and Book of Allaah (i.e., my brother in Islam)" was referring to the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): "The believers are nothing else than brothers (in Islamic religion)" [al-Hujuraat 49:10] and other similar aayaat. The phrase "she is permissible for me (to marry)" means it is permissible to marry her even though she is the brother's daughter, because the kind of brotherhood that would prevent such a marriage is the brotherhood of descent (same parent) or of radaa'ah (by being breastfed in infancy by the same woman), not the brotherhood of faith.
Source

In cocnlusion, from above it is clear that the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam) was not the one who came up with the idea of marrying our mother, 'Aishah (radiallahu anha).

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

But this moral relativist Prophet would use the same excuse to reject a woman he did not like.

Sahih Bukhari V.7, B62, N. 37
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
It was said to the Prophet, "Won't you marry the daughter of Hamza?" He said, "She is my foster niece (brother's daughter). "

Hamza and Abu Bakr both were the foster brothers of Muhammad. But Ayesha must have been too pretty for the Prophet to abide by the codes of ethics and custom.

First, Ali Sina, show an evidence for your bogus interpretation: he didn't like her and Abou Bakr (radiallahu anho) was the foster brother of Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam). This only shows your academic dishonesty and ignorance. I would expect from an ex-Muslim and an "Islamic expert" to know the definition of foster brother in Islam. Learn more about Islamic Ruling on breastfeeding and the wisdom behind it. So, in this case, Allah's Rasoul (Messenger - sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam) rejected the marriage because according to Shari'ah she was forbiden for him to marry due to the fact that Hamza (radiallahu anho) and Prophet Muhammad (sal-allahu 'alayhi wa salam) were breastfed by the same woman (Thuwaiba):

Umm Habiba, the daughter of AbuSufyan, reported: "...I said: I have been informed that you have given the proposal of marriage to Durrah daughter of Abu Salama He raid: You mean the daughter of Umm Salama? I said: Yes. He said: Even if she had not been my step-daughter brought up under my guardianship, she would not have been lawful for me, for she is the daughter of my foster-brother (Hamza), for Thuwaiba had suckled me and her father. So do not give me the proposal of the marriage of your daughters and sisters." [Sahih Muslim Book 8.3412]

There're few other ahadith in both of the Sahih (Bukhair & Muslim) confirming this.

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

In the following Hadith he confided to Ahesha that he had dreamed of her before soliciting her from her father.

Sahih Bukhari 9.140
Narrated 'Aisha:
Allah's Apostle said to me, "You were shown to me twice (in my dream) before I married you. I saw an angel carrying you in a silken piece of cloth, and I said to him, 'Uncover (her),' and behold, it was you. I said (to myself), 'If this is from Allah, then it must happen.

Whether Muhammad had actually such dream or he just said it to please Ayesha is not the point. What matters here is that it indicates that Ayesaha was a baby being "carried" by an angel when the Prophet dreamed of her.

The whole dream issue has been already explained and what I want to focus on is his last argument. The emphasized part of his argument is the ridiculous logic at its best, not surprised to see. Mr. Sina, can you please explain us how one being carried is considered a baby? Also, the word 'carry' in the hadith is not the in the inverted quotes. When people carry injured soldiers on the battlefields, does it mean the soldiers are the baby? Off course, they're according to your argument. It is amazing that your country, America, is sending "babies" to fight the "terrorists", while adults like you are sitting at home and enjoying their deaths.

He quotes bunch of ahadith and says

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

In the above hadith we read that Ayesha was swinging, This is a play of little girls not grown up people.

So, if a girl doesn't play on a swing then she is grown up? What kind of criteria is this? do you know that even the girls who are 18 years old or older play and love to play on swings etc?

side note: can a sister on forum please provide an evidence for this insha'Allah, you or your friend or anyone you know, Jazak Allah khair?

Originally Posted by Ali Sina

But the following is also interesting because it demonstrates that she was just a kid playing with her dolls. Pay attention to what the interpreter wrote in the parenthesis. (She was a little girl, not yet reached the age of puberty)

Sahih Bukhari Volume 8, Book 73, Number 151
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)

Sahih Muslim Book 008, Number 3311
'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) 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.

Again, Ali Sina is imposing a ridiculously stupid criteria! How does one playing or not playing with dolls prove that she has grown up or not? I've already showed two authentic narrations at the start proving that 'Aishah not only had reached puberty but also had physically matured and this is from her own mouth. Ali Sina appealing to what Khatabi said and quoted in Fateh al-Bari only shows that you're committing the logical fallacy: Appealing to an authority. I've already dealt with this issue in bit details here. You can also check out brother Bassam's articles on this topic on his website in section refuting Sam Shamoun.

In rest of the articles, Ali Sina goes on typical rampage against the Muslims who rejects these ahadith, which some students of knowledge already dealt with: Age of 'Aisha's Marriage: Historians vs Hadith Scholars

In conclusion, this is end of the refutation; allhamdulillah, I've shown the logical problems with Ali Sina's arguments, his misinterpretation of the historical facts and his academic dishonesty. I also presented TWO authentic narrations which proves that our mother, 'Aishah (radiallahu anha), not only had reached the puberty but also had physically matured. Now, if these people have problem with an adult man marrying an adult woman, we can't help them; maybe doctors can.

Wallahu A'lam (and Allah knows best)