Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/current-events-social-issues/7816-hazrat-ayeshas-age-marriage.html

In my opinion, the age of Ayesha has been grossly misreported in the narratives of the incident. Not only that, I think that the narratives reporting this event are not only highly unreliable but also that on the basis of other historical data, the event reported, is quite an unlikely happening. Let us look at the issue from an objective stand point. My reservations in accepting the narratives, on the basis of which, Ayesha’s age at the time of her marriage with the Prophet (pbuh) is held to be nine years are:

1. Most of these narratives are reported only by Hisham ibn `urwah reporting on the authority of his father. An event as well known as the one being reported should logically have been reported by more people than just one, two or three.

2. It is quite strange that no one from Medinah, where Hisham ibn `urwah lived the first seventy-one years of his life has narrated the event, even though in Medinah his pupils included people as well known as Malik ibn Anas. All the narratives of this event have been reported by narrators from Iraq, where Hisham is reported to have shifted after living in Medinah for seventy-one years.

3. Tehzeeb al-Tehzeeb, one of the most well known books on the life and reliability of the narrators of the traditions ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) reports that according to Yaqub ibn Shaibah: “narratives reported by Hisham are reliable except those that are reported through the people of Iraq”. It further states that Malik ibn Anas objected on those narratives of Hisham, which were reported through people of Iraq (Vol. 11, pg. 48 – 51).

4. Meezaan al-Ai`tidaal, another book on the narrators of the traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) reports that when he was old, Hisham’s memory suffered quite badly (Vol. 4, pg. 301 – 302).

5. According to the generally accepted tradition, Ayesha was born about eight years before Hijrah. However, according to another narrative in Bukhari (Kitaab al-Tafseer) Ayesha is reported to have said that at the time Surah Al-Qamar, the 54th chapter of the Qur’an , was revealed, “I was a young girl”. The 54th Surah of the Qur’an was revealed nine years before Hijrah. According to this tradition, Ayesha had not only been born before the revelation of the referred Surah, but was actually a young girl (jariyah), not even only an infant (sibyah) at that time. Obviously, if this narrative is held to be true, it is in clear contradiction with the narratives reported by Hisham ibn `urwah. I see absolutely no reason that after the comments of the experts on the narratives of Hisham ibn `urwah, why should we not accept this narrative to be more accurate.

6. According to a number of narratives, Ayesha accompanied the Muslims in the battle of Badr and Uhud. Furthermore, it is also reported in books of hadith and history that no one under the age of 15 years was allowed to take part in the battle of Uhud. All the boys below 15 years of age were sent back. Ayesha’s participation in the battle of Badr and Uhud clearly indicates that she was not nine or ten years old at that time. After all, women used to accompany men to the battlefields to help them, not to be a burden upon them.

7. According to almost all the historians Asma, the elder sister of Ayesha was ten years older than Ayesha. It is reported in Taqreeb al-Tehzeeb as well as Al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah that Asma died in the 73rd year after hijrah[2] when she was 100 years old. Now, obviously if Asma was 100 years old in the 73rd year after hijrah, she should have been 27 or 28 years old at the time of hijrah. If Asma was 27 or 28 years old at the time of hijrah, Ayesha should have been 17 or 18 years old at that time. Thus if Ayesha got married in 1 AH (after hijrah) or 2 AH then she was between 18 to 20 years old at the time of her marriage.

8. Tabari in his treatise on Islamic history, while mentioning Abu Bakr reports that Abu Bakr had four children and all four were born during the Jahiliyyah – the pre Islamic period. Obviously, if Ayesha was born in the period of jahiliyyah, she could not have been less than 14 years in 1 AH – the time she most likely got married.

9. According to Ibn Hisham, the historian, Ayesha accepted Islam quite some time before Umar ibn Khattab. This shows that Ayesha accepted Islam during the first year of Islam. While, if the narrative of Ayesha’s marriage at seven years of age is held to be true, Ayesha should not even have been born during the first year of Islam.

10. Tabari has also reported that at the time Abu Bakr planned on migrating to Habshah (8 years before Hijrah), he went to Mut`am – with whose son Ayesha was engaged at that time – and asked him to take Ayesha in his house as his son’s wife. Mut`am refused, because Abu Bakr had embraced Islam. Subsequently, his son divorced Ayesha. Now, if Ayesha was only seven years old at the time of her marriage, she could not have been born at the time Abu Bakr decided on migrating to Habshah. On the basis of this report it seems only reasonable to assume that Ayesha had not only been born 8 years before hijrah, but was also a young lady, quite prepared for marriage.

11. According to a narrative reported by Ahmad ibn Hanbal, after the death of Khadijah , when Khaulah came to the Prophet (pbuh) advising him to marry again, the Prophet (pbuh) asked her regarding the choices she had in her mind. Khaulah said: “You can marry a virgin (bikr) or a woman who has already been married (thayyib)”. When the Prophet (pbuh) asked about who the virgin was, Khaulah proposed Ayesha’s name. All those who know the Arabic language, are aware that the word “bikr” in the Arabic language is not used for an immature nine-year old girl. The correct word for a young playful girl, as stated earlier is “Jariyah”. “Bikr” on the other hand, is used for an unmarried lady, and obviously a nine year old is not a “lady”.

12. According to Ibn Hajar, Fatimah was five years older than Ayesha. Fatimah is reported to have been born when the Prophet (pbuh) was 35 years old. Thus, even if this information is taken to be correct, Ayesha could by no means be less than 14 years old at the time of hijrah, and 15 or 16 years old at the time of her marriage.

These are some of the major points that go against accepting the commonly known narrative regarding Ayesha’s age at the time of her marriage.

In my opinion, neither was it an Arab tradition to give away girls in marriage at an age as young as nine or ten years, nor did the Prophet (pbuh) marry Ayesha at such a young age. The people of Arabia did not object to this marriage, because it never happened in the manner it has been narrated.

Some pathetic non-Muslims use unreliable quotes from unreliable books. They quote the following from Al-Tabari’s book:

“I have fabricated things against God and have imputed to Him words which He has not spoken.”
~MUHAMMAD (Al-Tabari 6:111)

Response:

This is in fact such a weak and stupid argument made by some Christians , and they desperately and shamelessly use it to disprove the prophethood of Muhammed.

For starter, who is Tabari ?!  Tabari  was a HISTORIAN not a scholar, so he does not verify the narrations as we will read in the introduction of his book. Anyway, Islamic historians would simply compile all the known narrations about a certain event, regardless of how authentic or reliable each of those narrations were. They would copy the Isnads (chains of transmitters) into their books, in order that the Muhaditheen (scholars of Hadith) could determine which narration was Sahih/Hasan (authentic/good) and which was Dhaeef (weak) or even Mawdoo (fabricated). In other words, the historians compiled the narrations, and the Muhaditheen authenticated them. Therefore, based on the above, we find that Tareekh at-Tabari is simply a COLLECTION OF NARRATIONS on certain events; some of these narrations are ACCURATE, whereas others are NOT. The authenticity of each narration depends on the Isnad (chain of transmitters): if the narration was transmitted by reliable narrators, then it would be accepted as valid, but if it was transmitted by unreliable people, then the narration was to be disregarded. Tabari says in a disclaimer in the introduction of his book:

 “I shall likewise mention those (narrators) who came after them, giving additional information about them. I do this so that it can be clarified whose transmission (of traditions) is praised and whose information is transmitted, whose transmission is to be rejected and whose transmission is to be disregarded…The reader should know that with respect to all I have mentioned and made it a condition to set down in this book of mine, I rely upon traditions and reports which have been transmitted and which I attribute to their transmitters. I rely only very rarely upon (my own) rationality and internal thought processes. For no knowledge of the history of men of the past and of recent men and events is attainable by those who were not able to observe them and did not live in their time, except through information and transmission produced by informants and transmitters. This knowledge cannot be brought out by reason or produced by internal thought processes. This book of mine may contain some information mentioned by me on the authority of certain men of the past, which the reader may disapprove of and the listener may find detestable, because he can find nothing sound and no real meaning in it. In such cases, he should know that it is not my fault that such information comes to him, but the fault of someone who transmitted it to me. I HAVE MERELY REPORTED IT as it was reported to me.(Tareekh at-Tabari, Vol.1, Introduction)” [ http://www.ahlelbayt.com/articles/islam/tabari ]    

So this quote is a LIE against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), not just that, but there were many lies invented by the hypocrites from among the Jews in order to REJECT prophet Muhammed. The people were certain that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the awaited one and to defend themselves, the hypocrites from the Jews invented such lies.

Inventing lies is not a big problem for the liars, this is their job. For example, the Prophet once recited some Surahs(verses from Quran) to the pagans in Makkah and prostrated to God Almighty at the end. The pagans who were speechless at the beauty of the recitation also prostrated. When the news spread to the leaders of the pagans, they were upset and were looking to take action against those pagans who had prostrated. In order to defend themselves, those pagans lied that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had said good things about their false gods. The lie was made to defend themselves.

If these Christians feel that the hypocrites were telling the truth and he really praised the pagan gods, then he must also accept the hypocrites around Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) who claimed the same for Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him).

Just like the hypocrites invented lies against the Prophets of the Old Testament (sinners, rapists, killers, incest performers, idol worshippers, nudists etc), they invented lies against Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) but the difference is that Muslims have rejected these hypocrites and have thrown them of their books .

Another thing, Muhammed peace be upon him was SINCERE, and he was called ”The Trustworthy” and “Truthful” before his prophethood, so how can he fabricate things on God, doesn’t make any sense, dose it ?!

Christians’ conclusion that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had Satan behind him just reminds one of the story of Lazarus when Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) raised him from death by the permission of God Almighty. The hypocrites around him stated that “the devil was behind him”. Such allegations have been labeled at Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as well and it is no surprise at all.

So this argument that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) openly said that he lied is just PATHETIC and CHILDISH as can be seen. Making use of the weakest of weak narrations is the job of the HYPOCRITES.

I bear witness there’s no god but Allah, and Muhammed is his final messenger..

And Allah knows the best..

Återpublicerar vissa saker efter tid, eftersom det kommer nya läsare hela tiden. Läs och lär om profeten:

NY (ex-muslim) på FOMI skriver:

“Direkt avrättnings order av Muhammed:

Ramadan år 6 islamisk beräkning fick Muhammed veta att Um Qurfa/Umm Qirfa skulle vilja döda honom. Muhammed gav Zaid Ibn Alharitha order att döda henne på det värsta sättet han kan komma på för att ödmjuka sin familj och folk.

Vad gjorde Zaid Ibn Alharitha?

Zaid Ibn Alharitha tog med sig några “Mujahdeen” och gick till “Wadi Alqora” där Um Qurfas folk levde. Hon fångades, fick se sina två barn mördas framför sina ögon och sist bands hennes ben med hårda rep till två kameler som sprang sedan var sitt håll och delade upp gamla kvinnan Um Qurfa till två delar.

Sedan höggs hennes huvud av och togs av Zaid Ibn Alharitha till ِAlmadina.

Vad hände sedan?

Zaid Ibn Alharritha kom till Muhammed och kastade huvudet till honom. Muhammed beordrade att huvudet ska hängas i “Almadina” för att vara en läxa för andra otrogna.

Vad hände med Qurfa?

Qurfa är Um Qurfas stora son, och det är vanligt att kvinnan kallas efter sitt första barn på Um – (barnetsnamn). Vad hände med Um Qurfas stora son? Han mördades av Muhammed själv!

Vad hände med Qurfas syster, Um Qurfas lilla dotter?

Muhammed tog henne och gav bort henne som present (slavinna) till sin morbror.”

NY på FOMI skriver: “Direkt avrättnings order av Muhammed:
Ramadan år 6 islamisk beräkning fick Muhammed veta att Um Qurfa/Umm Qirfa skulle vilja döda honom. Muhammed gav Zaid Ibn Alharitha order att döda henne på det värsta sättet han kan komma på för att ödmjuka sin familj och folk.

Vad gjorde Zaid Ibn Alharitha?
Zaid Ibn Alharitha tog med sig några “Mujahdeen” och gick till “Wadi Alqora” där Um Qurfas folk levde. Hon fångades, fick se sina två barn mördas framför sina ögon och sist bands hennes ben med hårda rep till två kameler som sprang sedan var sitt håll och delade upp gamla kvinnan Um Qurfa till två delar.

Sedan höggs hennes huvud av och togs av Zaid Ibn Alharitha till ِAlmadina.

Vad hände sedan?
Zaid Ibn Alharritha kom till Muhammed och kastade huvudet till honom. Muhammed beordrade att huvudet ska hängas i “Almadina” för att vara en läxa för andra otrogna.

Vad hände med Qurfa?
Qurfa är Um Qurfas stora son, och det är vanligt att kvinnan kallas efter sitt första barn på Um – (barnetsnamn). Vad hände med Um Qurfas stora son? Han mördades av Muhammed själv!

Vad hände med Qurfas syster, Um Qurfas lilla dotter?
Muhammed tog henne och gav bort henne som present (slavinna) till sin morbror.”

Läs mer och diskutera på FOMI

Let’s compare.

As a disturbed individual was randomly shooting his colleagues at Virginia Tech, a Jewish Holocaust survivor blocked a classroom door to protect his students from the shooter. This 77-year-old engineering professor heroically sacrificed his life on Holocaust Memorial Day by taking bullets the shooter meant for his students.

Rest in peace, Liviu Librescu:

And now, turning to our peace-loving Muslims at an Arabic Islamic forum, I translate some of their ‘condolences’:

Al-Jazeera reported 20 dead and 29 injured. Praise be to Allah.

Praise be to Allah for these calamities hitting America. By the will of Allah, more of this [will happen], following their defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

O Allah, keep America busy with itself, and enamor its people against it.

And on this site, the massacre is being referred to as “The Great Ghazwa of Virginia”:

(Ghazwa means ‘raid’ in Arabic, referring to the battles Muhammad and his followers fought against the non-Muslims)

Translation: “The first picture of the South Korean Shaikh, Abu Mus’Ab Al-Virgini [the Virginian]” (an attempt to make him seem like Abu Mus’Ab Al-Zarqawi)
 

Translation: “A Product of American [democracy + nationalism]. As Muslims, our real condolences to you is to help you absolutely destroy your criminal democracy. By the vulnerable people in the Earth.”

And there’s a lot more.

Hmm, could these Muslims not see the love Islam preaches them to have for nonMuslims? I’ll help:

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220

I have been made victorious with terror (cast in the hearts of the enemy).

Quran 019:083

Do you not see that We have sent the Shaitans against the unbelievers, inciting them by incitement?

Quran 008:012

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Ibn Ishaq:489

Do the bastards think that we are not their equal in fighting? We Muslims are men who believe there is no shame in killing.

Tabari IX:69

Killing disbelievers is a small matter to us.

Updates @ GMT 3:34 PM

1. Another forum member remarks:
   

   We ask Allah to show us the wonders of His abilities on America. He is the guardian of that, and the one able to do it.

2. One of the two sites is unavailable at the moment. I have no idea why but many other pages of the same Web site are inaccessible as well.
   I wish I had shown more photos with translations of their captions. I will do so once the site is back up. There were about a dozen photographs related to the Virginia Tech massacre, with captions mocking grieving students, policemen, school officials, and of course President Bush. The way the event was dramatized as a god-sanctioned ghazwa is just sickening.
3. I realize that many Muslims are indeed sickened by the VT killings. This is despite of their religion, not because of it. The Islamic texts are filled with so much hatred for the ‘other’ they rejoice for their miseries. I have shown some examples of such hatred from reliable Islamic sources in my post.
4. For the record, I am in no way linking Seung Hui Cho’s actions to any Islamic teachings. Cho was mentally disturbed. But so are those who share his happiness in the death of people whose only ‘crime’ was to attend school on Monday.

Update: @ GMT 1:53 AM, April 19: Site’s back up.

Je reçois hier matin ce livre (Israel e l’Islam / Pietro Citati), signalé par une récente émission de Culture d’Islam (extrait), et avant d’éteindre la lumière cette nuit, je l’ouvre au hasard et je tombe, frappé (folgorato) par son caractère borgésien, sur ce passage (traduction en dessous):

Abû Ja’far Muhammad At-Tabarî nacque attorno all’839 nella Persia settentrionale; e la sua sterminata opera di storico e di teologo sarebbe dimenticata, o conosciuta appena dagli specialisti, se un sogno non avesse folgorato la sua mente. Non voleva raccontare soltanto la storia dei suoi tempi, o di un’epoca limitata, ma tutta la storia del mondo, cominciando dalla creazione fino alle guerre cha ai suoi tempi insanguivano il mondo arabo. En non voleva narrare nemmeno una versione di ogni fatto, ma tutte le versioni che gli uomini raccontano di ogni evento, così che il suo libro diventasse quell’intreccio di realtà e di eventualità, di possibilità e di impossibilità, o di possibilità opposte, che forma l’universo. Così passò la giovinezza viaggiando in Egitto e nella Siria, nella Persia e un Iraq, per raccogliere le tradizioni arabe, iraniche, ebraiche, cristiane, sia quelle consegnate nella Bibbia, nel Corano e nel Libro dei Re, sia quelle che avevano una vita più locale ed effimera. Poi si fermò a Baghdad, dove aprì una scuola, scrisse un commento al Corano, e cominciò a comporre le Notizie dei Profeti e dei Re.

Abû Ja’far Muhammad At-Tabarî nâquit autour de 839 dans le nord de la Perse et son oeuvre infinie d’historien et de théologien serait oubliée, ou connue seulement des spécialistes, si un rêve n’avait frappé son esprit. Il ne voulut pas raconter seulement l’histoire de son temps, ou d’une époque limitée, mais toute l’histoire du monde, en commençant par la création jusqu’aux guerres qui de son temps ensanglantaient le monde arabe. Et il ne voulut non plus raconter une seule version de chaque fait, mais toutes les versions que les hommes racontent de chaque évènement, de sorte que son livre devînt un enchevêtrement de réalités et d’éventualités, de possibilités et d’impossibilités, ou de possibilités contraires, qui forme l’univers. Ainsi passa-t-il sa jeunesse à voyager: en Egypte et en Syrie, en Perse et en Iraq, pour recueillir les traditions arabes, iraniennes, hébraïques, chrétiennes, celles qui sont consignées dans la Bible, dans le Coran et dans le Livre des Rois et celles qui avaient une vie plus locale et éphémère. Puis il s’installa à Baghdad où il ouvrit une école, écrivit un commentaire du Coran et commença à composer les Notices des Prophètes et des Rois.