We do not agree with the agressive language employed, but the
below quoted newsgroup posting gives the facts in a concise form.
In article <512o2v$ngl@shellx.best.com>, m-14719@mailbox.swip.net (SVENHOLM) writes:
I was hoping that there would be at least some who would venture to come closer to the truth. I am adding my notes here, if only because we just have had an international congress on the prevention of sexual abuse of children, and there were a few enlightened Muslims who had demonstrated against the sort of practice described below, and which still continues in some countries.
Here are my notes with the specific references:
Already, when Aisha was about 4-5 years old Muhammad started dreaming of a union with her[a]. When she was 6, Muhammad asked Abu Bakr, Aisha's father, for her hand. Abu Bakr thought it was improper, because, as he said "I am your brother"; Muhammad brushed aside Abu Bakr's reservation by saying that it was perfectly lawful for him to marry Aisha[b]. So, Aisha was bethroted to Muhammad, and 3 years later, i.e. when Aisha was 9, the marriage was consumed.[c] And Muhammad was 53 then. The 3 year waiting period probably had to do with the fact that at that time Aisha had contracted some disease, whereby she, temporarily lost her hair. Aisha was then socially and psychologically still a child as is evidenced by the fact that she was still given to her toys, she was unaware of what was happening around her, and her playmates behave as would the children at present times[d]. Aisha became Muhammad's favourite wife. And the sexuality in the relationship was predominant[e]. Later, Aisha was to be called the "mother of believers"
If you are wondering, yes, the relationship was pedophilic.
SVENHOLM
References (Check them out at the Hadith Data Base):
a. B.5.58.235
b. B.7.62.18
c. B.5.58.236, 7.62.64, 7.62.65, 7.62.88
d. B.8.73.151, 5.58.234
e. B.1.5.270, 3.28.36, 7.62.6, 3.31.148, 3.31.149, 3.31.150, 7.62.142, IbnSa'd 1pg165
"B.5.58.234" means "Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 58, Number 234"
The Pakistani Web page raises questions about just how inconsistent all these traditions are. I give examples from his page. (All dates are in Western notation) 'But according to another narrative Bukhari (kitabu'l-tafseer) Ayesha (ra) 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'. So Ayesha was a young girl in about 613 , and so born about 605 or earlier. 'Tabari in his treatise on Islamic history, while mentioning Abu Bakr (ra) reports that Abu Bakr had four children and all four were born during the Jahiliyyah -- the pre Islamic period. Obviously, if Ayesha (ra) 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.' So Ayesha was definitely born before 608 if she was 14 in 621/622. 'According to Ibn Hajar, Fatimah (ra) was five years older than Ayesha (ra). Fatimah (ra) is reported to have been born when the Prophet (pbuh) was 35 years old.' So Fatimah was born in 605 when the Prophet was 35. So Ayesha was born in 610 , after Muhammad started to receive revelations, in direct contradiction of the Web page's other statements above. -- Steven Carr steven@bowness.demon.co.uk (Source)
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