Dear Opeoluwa,
Thank you for your feedback. First of all, understand that I am not a Muslim. Therefore, none of what I am writing to you should be taken to mean that I am speaking for Islam. These are just my own thoughts acquired from decades of studying Islam. For a more accurate answer, from an Islamic perspective, please reach out to an Ustaz, Imam, al-faqīh (what we mistakenly call Alfa in Nigeria), or Sheikh.
There are no historically and scientifically accurate records of how old Umm Aisha was when she married prophet Muhammad, Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalaam. However, please do note the following:
In those days, it was customary to betroth girls to men when they were young, and the marriage would be consummated when the girls came of age.
This is still happening in the Middle East and North Africa today, as well as in Northern Nigeria. For example, and you may want to fact-check this, more than 50% of women in Northern Nigeria marry before the age of 18.
Let me give you a biblical instance, since you are likely a Christian. Opeoluwa, how old do you think Mariam (Mary) was when she was betrothed to Joseph? She was believed to be between the ages of 10 and 12. How do we know this? Jewish Hebrew girls of that era typically married after their Bat Mitzvah, a ceremony declaring that they were now women.
Bat Mitzvahs are celebrated when a Jewish girl hits the age of 13. It was believed that Maryam was 14 when she gave birth to Yeshua.
King David married Abishag, who was believed to be between 12-15, when he was in his late sixties-1 Kings 1:3.
And God Himself designed it that way, which is why a girl starts to menstruate at the age of 12-13. Menstruation is a natural monthly cycle confirming that a girl is physically capable of having children. Are you now going to question God?
To put things into perspective, this same Umm Aisha was the author, by narration, of over 2000 Hadiths. In none of those Hadiths did she testify that she was underaged when she married the prophet of Islam.
The challenge for many of those who may want to castigate the marriage between Umm Aisha and the prophet of Islam is that they use modern trends to judge things that occurred over a thousand years ago.
This world is evolving, and customs and cultures change with it. However, we must be careful when using today’s value systems to judge events from different eras.
Thanks again, and may God bless you.
Reno Omokri
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