Pedophilia Revisited
From WikiIslam
- By Abdul Walid bin Muhammad Talib
Sahih Ahadith Prove Aisha was Still Pre-pubescent Aged Fifteen
Most Muslims are unaware that the Sahih ahadith say that Aisha bint Abu Bakr, the wife of Muhammad bin Abdallah, was below the age of puberty when she was at least fourteen years old. This is because they have never read the Sahih ahadith in Arabic. The narrators of the Sahih ahadith were not ashamed that Muhammad had married and had sexual relations with Aisha when she was below the age of puberty. However, modern Muslims are ashamed that their prophet would do this, so they may claim that there is no evidence that Aisha was below the age of puberty. On the contrary, they may insist that she was already past the age of puberty, even though they do not possess the evidence to back this claim.
We do not need to accept on blind faith the unsubstantiated claims of these Muslims since we have the original sahih ahadith. What do these say about Aisha’s pubertal status? The evidence is clear from the collection of Imam Bukhari. Hence, I will base my proposition on the famous “The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih Al-Bukhari Arabic-English” by Dr Muhammad Muhsin Khan, published by the Islamic University - Al-Medina Al-Munauwara, Saudi Arabia.
Here are some of the relevant ahadith:
Narrated 'Ursa:
Aisha said, "While the Ethiopians were playing with their small spears, Allah's Apostle screened me behind him and I watched (that display) and kept on watching till I left on my own." So you may estimate of what age a little girl may listen to amusement.[Author’s note: in this hadith, Ayesha was 15 years old – according to Muhsin Khan]
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet was screening me with his Rida' (garment covering the upper part of the body) while I was looking at the Ethiopians who were playing in the courtyard of the mosque. (I continued watching) till I was satisfied. So you may deduce from this event how a little girl (who has not reached the age of puberty) who is eager to enjoy amusement should be treated in this respect.[Author’s note: in this hadith, Aisha had not reached puberty – according to Muhsin Khan]
In the first hadith Sahih Bukhari 7:62:118, Dr Muhsin Khan in the official text published in Islamic University - Al-Medina Al-Munauwara, Saudi Arabia says, “Aisha was 15 years then.” Some Muslims might claim that it was only Muhsin Khan’s opinion that Aisha was 15 years old at that time. However, this is irrelevant since Muhammad would have bedded Aisha by then. This is because this incident of Aisha watching the Abyssinian/Ethiopian slaves throwing spears in the mosque took place in Medina because according to Abu Dawud, Eid festivals were instituted only in Medina.
We know from other ahadith that Muhammad married Aisha in Shawwal, 1 Hijri. However, the first Eid al-Adha would have taken place at the earliest two months later in Dhul Hijja. Hence these two “Aisha watching the Ethiopians” ahadith tell us that she was below the age of puberty more than two months after Muhammad had sex with her. Muhsin Khan stated that this was about six years later.
In the second hadith Sahih Bukhari 7:62:163 Muhsin Khan added the phrase “who has not reached the age of puberty” in parentheses. Some Muslims might claim that this phrase is in parentheses, and therefore it was only his opinion, not in the original Arabic. However, this is false since the parenthetical phrase explains the Arabic phrase, “jariyathin hadeethaathil sanna”. This phrase is also found in the following hadith when Aisha was 14 years old.
[Author’s note: in this hadith, Aisha was about 14 years old]
In Arabic, the phrase “jariyathil hadeethaathil sanna” literally means pre-pubertal girl of new/recent/young age. The word “jariya” has several meanings, but only one can fit Aisha. It means a pre-pubertal girl, a singer, slave girl/woman, concubine, or maid. The last four definitions show that it is a pejorative term, just like the word ‘boy’ was used by white people to describe black male slaves, even if adults.
Jariya is sometimes translated as young playful girl, but it is never used to describe a mature woman, particularly one who is married, unless that person is below the age of puberty. Jariya is also sometimes translated as young girl or young woman. However, this does not mean that the subject has passed the age of puberty because the Arabic meaning is not the same as the English understanding of the phrase ‘young woman’. In other words, the Arabic term “jariya” carries the same meaning as the English understanding of the phrase ‘young woman’ to mean ‘girl’ or ‘lass’ (Roget’s Thesaurus).
This is proven by Mufti Sayed Abdul Jaleel Saheb, Sheikh - ul- Hadith - Madressah Talimuddeen who said, “In the Arabic language, the word "Jaria" is generally used for a young, immature girl (who has not reached the age of puberty as yet).”[2]
The understanding that Aisha was below the age of puberty is emphasized by the phrase “hadeethaathil sanna”, which means “new or beginning or initial age”. This phrase carries the notion of immaturity because it is the initial age, bearing in mind that the phrase does not mean ‘new’ as in a “change” (which is a possible understanding of the English word “new”), but refers to the initial phase or beginning. Hence, “jariyathil hadeethaathil sanna” means a young girl in the first period of her youth, which can only mean the age before puberty.
Ayesha Bewley of the Maliki School has also translated al-Bukhari, but merely translated this phrase to ‘young girl’. This is not the true meaning of the phrase as it does not specifically convey the notion that Aisha bint Abu Bakr was below the age of puberty. Hence, some Muslims might delude themselves into thinking that ‘young girl’ in this translation does not say anything about puberty. It does – in Arabic.
Other ahadith also show Aisha was a jariya, or a pre-pubertal girl:
Narrated Yusuf bin Mahk:
While I was with Aisha, the mother of the Believers, a person from Iraq came and asked, "What type of shroud is the best?" 'Aisha said, "May Allah be merciful to you! What does it matter?" He said, "O mother of the Believers! Show me (the copy of) your Qur'an," She said, "Why?" He said, "In order to compile and arrange the Qur'an according to it, for people recite it with its Suras not in proper order." 'Aisha said, "What does it matter which part of it you read first? (Be informed) that the first thing that was revealed thereof was a Sura from Al-Mufassal, and in it was mentioned Paradise and the Fire. When the people embraced Islam, the Verses regarding legal and illegal things were revealed. If the first thing to be revealed was: 'Do not drink alcoholic drinks.' people would have said, 'We will never leave alcoholic drinks,' and if there had been revealed, 'Do not commit illegal sexual intercourse, 'they would have said, 'We will never give up illegal sexual intercourse.' While I was a young girl of playing age, the following Verse was revealed in Mecca to Muhammad: 'Nay! But the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter.' (54.46) Sura Al-Baqara (The Cow) and Surat An-Nisa (The Women) were revealed while I was with him." Then 'Aisha took out the copy of the Qur'an for the man and dictated to him the Verses of the Suras (in their proper order)The Arabic phrase here is “jariyathan al-aban”.
Narrated Yusuf bin Mahik:
I was in the house of 'Aisha, the mother of the Believers. She said, "This revelation: "Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense); and the Hour will be more previous and most bitter." (54.46) was revealed to Muhammad at Mecca while I was a playful little girl."The Arabic phrase here is “jariyathan al-aban”.
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
When I got married, Allah's Apostle said to me, "What type of lady have you married?" I replied, "I have married a matron' He said, "Why, don't you have a liking for the virgins and for fondling them?" Jabir also said: Allah's Apostle said, "Why didn't you marry a young girl so that you might play with her and she with you?'The Arabic phrase here is “jariyathan thulaibuha”. It shows that jariya is the opposite of ‘matron’ or a mature woman.
In summary, Dr Muhsin Khan in the official text published in Islamic University - Al-Medina Al-Munauwara, Saudi Arabia says in two related ahadith that Aisha had not reached puberty when she was 15 years old. The text is published by Dar Al-Fikar, with a signed prologue of many scholars, and is attested by Muhammad Amin Al-Ansari PhD, Adviser and Head of Sharia Department, in the same University.
Hence, from the original Arabic, it is clear that Aisha was below the age of puberty at the age of 14 (at the time of the raid on the Bani Mustaliq) or 15 (at the time of the Ethiopian slaves dancing incident). We know that Muhammad ‘udkhilath’ (sexually penetrated) her when she was nine years old. Thus, putting all the evidence together, it is without doubt that Muhammad had sex with Aisha when she was below the age of puberty.
[edit] See also
- Islam and Pedophilia
- Aisha's Age of Consummation
- Pedophilia in the Qur'an
- Muhammad's companions and Pedophilia
- Contemporary Pedophilic Islamic Marriages
[edit] References
- ↑ Arabic to English dictionary.sakhr.com
- ↑ Quote taken from QURANIC AYAH WHEREIN ALLAAH T A' ALA HAS DECLARED THE PROHIBITATION OF MUSIC. tazkiyah.info
