Re: prophet mohammad
^ Salaams! I couldn’t agree more. MA extremely insightful and appropriate response.
Human reasoning has its limits…but if the person genuinely wants to understand the basis of such actions, they are welcome to read the Sirah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) such as:
http://www.simplyislam.com/iteminfo.asp?item=52412#
The whole commotion over the so-called child marriage of Hazrat Aisha (PBUH) should not only be considered in the light of the prevailing customs, traditions, socio-political structure and scientific facts such as low life expectancy, but also with the understanding that as Muslims it is part of our belief that anything the Prophet PBUH said, did, or approved of were things permitted and established by God on earth via his messenger. Therefore even socially unacceptable acts at that time, such as marrying the divorcee of an adopted child (Hazrat Zaid’s ex-wife, Hazrat Zainab bint Jahsh), were established by the Prophet PBUH due to God’s directives.
Secondly, the wives of the Prophet (PBUH) were those women who had gone through severe hardships, widowed, divorced, or married to set certain examples (as quoted above). The Prophet set an example for men to marry women on the basis of Islam rather than the Jahilliya priorities of wealth, status, virginity, etc, and to gain Allah’s favor as well as improve the society by helping out those in need through this divine union. This was not only an example for men, but for women as well, to learn from the example of the Mothers of the Believers and instill values such as patience, altruism and generosity in domestic life.
The Western approach is usually to paint the marital life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in vivid controversy, making it seem as though he maintained some sort of harem (naozubillah) which is most certainly not the case as I doubt any guy would marry 50-yr old destitute widows (such as Hazrat Sawdah) for personal motives.
Hazrat Aisha was nine when she was betrothed to the Prophet (PBUH) but did the union was not consummated till another two years, which makes her eleven at the time of actual marriage. At a time when commanders of the Muslim army could range from 13-18yrs of age, I wonder why having a wife a few years younger is an issue in the first place. Also, Muslims are supposed to marry as soon as possible after puberty anyway, no matter what age that entails.
I would also like to point out that if you see the trends of society today, the West itself is returning to the rituals of early marriages or teenage betrothals albeit due to the extremes of sexual depravity in most cases. For reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_youngest_birth_mothers
Point is, when a a girl has illegal sexual intercourse or gives birth or marries within the pre-teen or teenage years in the West, it’s called freedom of choice or exemplary love. But if an early marriage is arranged in the East to prevent social ills, it’s called forced child marriage or child abuse and depicted as the pinnacle of human of women’s rights violations =/