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Islamic Scholar Abdullah Khadra Defends Prophet Muhammad Marrying Aisha When She Was Still A Child: If A Loving Father Wants To Marry Off His Nine-Year-Old Daughter To A Righteous Man And All Parties Consent – What Is The Issue With That?
In a recent question and answers session following a Christian-Muslim debate held at North Carolina State University, North Carolina Islamic scholar Abdullah Khadra defended the Prophet Muhammad's marriage to Aisha when she was still a child. In Islam it is understood that "you can marry a child, but you can never have a [physical] relationship with her until she is psychologically and physically able," he said, adding that in some countries, girls reach maturity at a young age, and that "in our community [in the U.S.']… we have girls in grade 5 who reach maturity, reach puberty."
He further justified the practice by saying that historically, the age of marriage in the U.S. was once 9 years of age. "It doesn't matter if in that community it is OK, and there is no physical harm, no psychological harm… and it is by consent of all parties. What is the issue with that?"
The April 14 debate, which pitted Reverend Anthony Rogers against Sheikh Khadra, was titled "The Great Debate Series — Trinity or Tawhid?"
Abdullah Khadra: "About Lady Aisha, God be pleased with her, the Mother of the Believers..."
Anthony Rogers: "Child Aisha."
Khadra: "No. Lady Aisha, God be pleased with her – yes, she was young. Now, what is the age of marriage in the U.S.? Every state has a different age. There are some countries outside, in the world, where girls can marry at 12 years old. What is the issue with this? In Africa, girls reach maturity much much younger. Even here in the U.S., I know that we have some students from our families, our acquaintances, where girls in grade 5 reach maturity, reach puberty.
"Very briefly, the worst enemies of the Prophet Muhammad, in his own time, did not object to this and did not say: 'Oh, look, he's marrying a young lady.' In Islam, it is understood that by consensus, you can marry a child, but you can never have a [physical] relationship with her until she is psychologically and physically able. If a father is loving and wants to give his daughter in marriage to someone who is righteous – well, if the Prophet was here, everyone would love to do that, and give his daughter to the Prophet. So there is nothing wrong with that. That is their culture.
"You cannot measure your culture after their culture. In the U.S., go to the history [books]. You will find that the age of marriage sometimes was 9 years old. Everyone can search now on the Internet. It can be 9 years old, 8 years old... It doesn't matter if in that community it is OK, and there is no physical harm, no psychological harm, and there is no problem – it is by consent of all parties. What is the issue with that?"
