Pakistani Religious Scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamidi on the Age of 'Aisha When She Married the Prophet Muhammad

Age of ‘Ā’ishah (rta) at her Marriage

Social Issues Javed Ahmad Ghamidi (Tr. by:Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

It is generally believed that ‘Ā’ishah (rta), mother of the faithful, was six years old when she got married to the Prophet Muhammad (sws). The nikāh took place in Makkah after the death of Khadījah (rta). The marriage was consummated three years later in Madīnah. This is what books of hadīth and sīrah report about her. The narratives which describe these details are found in Bukhārī and Muslim and some other books of hadīth as well. There is no doubt that such marriages have taken place in the past keeping in view certain needs of tribal and rural societies. Examples can even be presented from our society. It is also true that the social attitudes that spring from basic morality can be different in different societies keeping in view their circumstances and experiences, and the moral status of one society cannot be determined by using another society as a standard. All these things can be accepted; however, the matter of ‘Ā’ishah’s (rta) marriage is different. The question which arises in every discerning mind relates to the need of this marriage: Why did it take place when the need which was present at that time could not have been fulfilled even after many subsequent years. Such marriages do take place and one can accept them taking place without any hesitation; however, it is not easy to accept marriages which take place without any reason and to fulfill a current need many years later.

Had the suggestion to marry her come from the Prophet (sws), we could have said that this was done on divine bidding. The role she would play in the Prophet’s life and the treasure of wisdom which would be transmitted to the ummah through her noble person was in the foreknowledge of God; thus it was decided that she be singled out for the Prophet (sws) since this early age. We can also say that the Prophet (sws) undertook this marriage for the betterment of his preaching mission. ‘Ā’ishah’s (rta) father was a very close companion of the Prophet (sws). In tribal life, relationships play a great role in cementing close ties. The Prophet (sws) deemed it appropriate that he engage in this association with his special companion so that ties of friendship and love were strengthened.

Had this suggestion to marry her come from Abū Bakr (rta), it could have been said that he was desirous of respect and honour for his daughter, for his own self and for his own family. He wanted to establish familial ties with the person whom he regarded to be a messenger of God; perhaps he did not get this idea at the time of the marriage of his other daughter Asmā’ (rta). After her, it was only through ‘Ā’ishah (rta) that he could attain this honour. Thus he suggested for this marriage to take place. The Prophet (sws) accepted this suggestion to honour the wish of his dear friend.

However, we know that none of these suppositions are true. If because of a divinely inspired vision such a thought for ‘Ā’ishah’s (rta) existed in the heart of the Prophet (sws), he never expressed it. The whole corpus of hadith and sīrah literature is totally devoid of a mention of any such suggestion, indication or insinuation from him. The same is the case of Abū Bakr (rta). If he wanted the marriage of his daughter to take place with the Prophet (sws), why did he resolve to solemnize her marriage with the son of Mut‘im ibn ‘Adī? Narratives mention that he had already done this before this suggestion came to him. Not only this, it is also reported that when he heard this suggestion, he expressed his wonder since he thought that the Prophet (sws) was like a paternal uncle for his children; so how could the suggestion of such a marriage be presented. His words reported are: هل تصلح له إنما هي ابنة أخيه (Is she allowed to him? She is the daughter of his brother!)1

The narratives clearly state that it was Khawlah bint hakīm who suggested that the name of ‘Ā’ishah (rta) for this marriage. It was she who directed the attention of the Prophet (sws) to the fact that after the death of Khadījah (rta), it was his need to marry again. She is reported to have said: يا رسول الله كأني أراك قد دخلتك خلة لفقد خديجة أفلا أخطب عليك (I see that you have secluded yourself after the loss of Khadījah; shall I find a match for you?).2 On inquiry by the Prophet (sws), she told him that both an unmarried and a divorced lady were available. When the Prophet (sws) asked who was the unmarried lady she had in mind, her reply was ‘Ā’ishah bint Abī Bakr (rta).3

 

A wife can be needed to satisfy one’s sexual needs, for companionship and friendship and for looking after children and household affairs. If this suggestion was given with sanity prevailing, the question which arises is: which of these needs can be fulfilled by a six year old girl? Could sexual relations be established with her? Could the companionship of a wife be available through her? Could she have been able to look after kids? Could she have looked after household affairs? The issue just raised that a marriage is taking place to fulfill needs which cannot even be fulfilled after many years of marriage is not merely a possible option that should considered in interpreting these narratives. It is the most fundamental question in this regard. Can it be logically accepted that to fulfill a need of today a suggestion be given as a result of which it is not even fulfilled after several years? Ibn Khaldūn has rightly pointed out that in the matter of historical incidents, the real thing is their possibility of taking place. They cannot merely be accepted on the basis that their chain of narration contains such and such a person and that it has been narrated through several chains.4

In current times, men of learning who are presenting their researches on this issue should first of all answer this question. They should explain how this internal contradiction of the narrative can be resolved. If this contradiction cannot be resolved, then why don’t the requisites of knowledge and intellect entail that the narrative which depicts ‘Ā’shah’s age to be six years at the time of marriage should be reconsidered and the opinion of those scholars 5  should also be reflected upon who say that the words to the effect بعد العشر were understood to be present after the words بنت ستين uttered by ‘Ā’ishah (rta) and the narrators never made an effort to understand them? Whatever research is presented without answering this question will never be worthy of any attention for any person of learning.

(Translated by Dr Shehzad Saleem)

http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=1336

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1. Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abū ‘Abdullāh al-Shaybānī, Musnad, vol, 6 (Cairo: Mu’assasah al-Qurtubah, n.d.), 210, (no. 25810).

2. See: Abū ‘Abdullāh Muhammad ibn Sa‘d al-Zuhrī, Al-Tabaqāt al-kubrā, vol. 8 (Beirut: Dār sādir, n.d.), 57.

3. Ibid.

4. ‘Abd al-Rah@mān ibn Muhammad ibn Khaldūn, Muqaddimah,  5th ed. (Beirut: Dār al-qalam, 1984), 37.
5. See, for example: Shabbīr Ahmad Azhar Mayrathī, Sahīh Bukhārī kā mutāla‘ah, 1st ed. (Lahore: Dār al-tazkīr, 2005), 252-255.

Salman al-'Awda: Ramadan & Its Meaning of Struggle

Saudi Women in the Eastern Province Protest at Funeral of Saudi Shi'i Protester Killed by Government Security Forces

Video of Saudi women demonstrating against the Saudi monarchy at the funeral of Akbar al-Shakhuri, a young Saudi protester killed by government security forces on July 8. Activists say he and another young man, Muhammad al-Felfel, were killed by government snipers, which the Saudi Ministry of Interior denies.

My New Piece at Al-Wasat: "Stereotyping Muslims: One Direction's Zayn Malik, Pop Culture, and the Diversity of Lived Religious Identity"

I have a new piece up at the collaborative Al-Wasat blog entitled "Stereotyping Muslims: One Direction's Zayn Malik, Pop Culture, and the Diversity of Lived Religious Identity."  It is the first piece I've written for publication that does not deal with the issues of militancy, Al-Qaeda, or other contemporary jihadi groups and movements, which most of my current research focuses on.  However, it does deal with issues such as the fluidity of religious identity, the highly individualized nature of this identity and how each person interprets it, and the diversity of "Islam" and "Muslim" as social categories.  The piece is anchored in an analysis of these issues through the lens of the recent ridiculous hullabaloo over the personal religious persuasion of one member of the British/Irish pop music group One Direction, who became the first British music group to see their first album debut on top of the Billboard top 200 albums sales chart back in March.  The group also has a top 10 radio single in the U.S., "What Makes You Beautiful."

There has been some discussion, mostly among One Direction's fans, about whether Malik, whose father is of Pakistani descent, is a Muslim.  The mainstream media recently picked up on this "story" back in June, as did an American far right wing loon who accused Malik and One Direction of "pimping Islam" and "boy band jihad" to teenage girls.  Some Muslims also reacted negatively toward Malik because of his profession as a pop singer as well as his lifestyle (he has tattoos, smokes, drinks alcohol, and dates).

In the post I look at the discourses surrounding his personal religious identity and try and tackle, albeit briefly, why attempts to impose "normative" religious identities on people is pure folly, in large part because religious traditions are lived and thus are subject to highly individualized interpretations and implementations. 

The piece may be read here:  http://thewasat.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/stereotyping-muslims-one-directions-zayn-malik-pop-culture-and-the-diverse-realities-of-lived-religious-identity/

Unlike much of my other work, this piece hopefully will be more readily understandable to a broader audience without the need for prior knowledge of other specialized sub-fields and areas of study.

Salman al-'Awda: Ruling Regarding Animal Rennet in Cheese

Wednesday, January 1, 2003

There is no problem using the rennet extracted from animals that were slaughtered according to Islamic Law. However, there is a lot of cheese in our markets coming from non-Muslim countries containing bovine rennet. The question arises as to whether or not we as Muslims can eat this cheese.

Cheese made with rennet extracted from animals that were illegally slaughtered was deemed permissible by Imam Ahmad, as stipulated in al-Mughnî (1/3). Muslims used to eat the cheese brought from the Magians and other unbelievers.

The people of knowledge have two sayings on this matter:

The opinion of the majority is that such rennet is impure, [refer to: al-Qawânîn al-Fiqhiyyah page 121, al-Majmû`2/588, Nihâyat al-Muhtâj1/244, Sharh Muntahâ al-Iradât 1/31, al-Insâf 92/1, al-Iqnâ` 1/1]. They believed the rennet is impure because it comes from an impure source, the stomach of the illegally slaughtered animal. They say it is a liquid material that touched an impure substance and thus becomes impure. Imam al-Nawawî said: "It is part of the animal so it is impure, like all the other parts of the animal."

The other saying is that it is pure. This is the opinion of some of the Companions and successors, `Umar, Salmân al-Fârisî, Talhâ, al-Husayn b. `Ali and others. It is also the opinion of the Hanafî school of thought, one narration from Ahmad, and the opinion of Ibn Taymiyyah, [refer to: Badâ'` al-Sanâ'`1/63, al-Bahr al-Ra'q 1/112, Tabyîn al-Haqa'q 1/26, Ihkâm al-Qur'an by al-Jassâs 1/168, al-Mabsût 24/27-28, Majmû` al-Fatâwa 21/102].

In his book al-Mughnî, Ibn Qudâmah writes: "Someone asked Imam Ahmad about cheese. The Imam replied: 'You can eat it from any source.' But, when asked about the cheese made by the Magians, he said: 'I do not know, but there is an authentic hadîth through al-A`mash that `Amr b. Sharhabîl said that `Umar was asked about cheese and the rennet of illegally slaughtered animal used therein. `Umar instructed him to mention Allah's name upon it and eat it."

They offer the following for evidence:

1. The hadîth related by Ibn Abî Shaybah (5/130) and `Abd al-Razzâq (4/538) through al-A`mash, as mentioned above. The line of transmission of this hadîth is absolutely sound. Imam Ahmad said: "It is the most correct hadîth on the subject."

2. The narration of Ibn Abî Shaybah (5/131) that Talhah used to put the knife over the cheese, mention Allah's name, then cut it and eat it. This also has a sound line of transmission.

3. The narration of Ibn Abî Shaybah through Waqî` that al-Hasan B. `Ali was asked about the cheese. He said: "It is alright, just put the knife to it, mention Allah's name, and eat it." All its narrators are reliable save Jahsh b. Ziyâd.

4. The narration of al-Tirmidhî (1726) and Ibn Mâjah (3367): "We were informed by Ismâ`îl b. Mûsa al-Fazarî through Salmân that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked about ghee, cheese and fur. He replied: "The lawful things are the ones mentioned in Allah's book as lawful and the unlawful things are the ones which are mentioned in Allah's book as unlawful, and whatever is not mentioned there, then it is exempted". It is a weak hadîth. Ibn Abî Shaybah mentioned in his book al-Musannaf (8/98) that he was informed by Waqî' through Suwayyid, the servant of Salmân, that he said: "When we won the battle of Madâ'in, Salmân said: 'We had found a basket in which we found four pieces of fine bread, cheese and a knife. Then Salmân took the knife and cut the cheese then he said: "Pronounce Allah's name and eat".' " The line of transmission is weak.

5. They said the milk and the rennet will not become impure after death and whatever is extracted from the living animal becomes as if dead. Therefore, since milk is lawful in such cases, then rennet is lawful.

Ibn Taymiyah said:

Regarding the milk and the rennet of unlawfully slaughtered animals, there are two saying from the scholars; one that it is pure, held by Abû Hanîfah and others, including one saying of Imam Ahmad. The other saying is that it is impure which is the saying of Malik, al-Shafi`î and another opinion of Imam Ahmad.

This disagreement took place regarding the cheese brought from the Magians as their slaughtered animals are totally unlawful by consensus. Still, there are two sayings about their cheese. I believe their cheese is lawful, since the milk of the illegally slaughtered animals is lawful and because the Companions ate from their cheese after the battle of Iraq. This has been authentically narrated to us from that time.

There are some weak narrations that some people from Hijâz disliked it, but they are not reliable. The people of Iraq are more trustworthy than others in this case because they lived there and knew the Magians firsthand. Salmân al-Farisî was the Caliph `Umar's governer in that area and he considered the cheese of the Magians to be lawful.

As for the argument that a liquid will become impure when it touches an impure place, we reply that it is known from Sunnah that the liquid is pure. We also say that even if it touches an impure place that will not matter. Allah says: "From what is within their bodies between excretions and blood we produce for you a drink, milk, pure and agreeable to those who drink it." This is why it is permissible to carry a child while praying despite of what is inside his body. And Allah knows best.

On the strength of the above arguments, I hold the opinion that eating cheese is lawful even if the rennet is extracted from unlawfully slaughtered animals.

And Allah knows best.