Marrying young—very young The Koran takes child marriage…
““Marrying young—very young The Koran takes child marriage for granted in its directives about divorce. Discussing the waiting period required in order to determine if a woman is pregnant, it says, “If you are in doubt concerning those of your wives who have ceased menstruating, know that their waiting period shall be three months. The same shall apply to those who have not yet menstruated” (65:4, emphasis added). Allah thus gives instructions for a situation in which a pre-pubescent woman is not only married, but is being divorced by her husband. Such a verse might have made its way into the Koran because of the notorious fact that Muhammad himself had a child bride. According to Sahih Bukhari, the hadith collection that Muslims consider most reliable, “The Prophet married her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e., till his death).” Another tradition recalls that at the age of nine, she was playing on a swing with some of her friends when Muhammad came for her.20””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The cited verses and hadith illustrate historical practices of child marriage in early Islamic context, raising ethical concerns.
In simple terms: Historical texts show child marriage in early Islam.
Key Takeaway
Critically examine historical religious texts.
Themes
religion
ethics
history
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
analytical
historical
When to use this quote
- academic study
- interfaith dialogue
- policy making
- education
Key Concepts
child marriage
interpretation
legal frameworks
Questions to Reflect On
- How should contemporary societies address such texts?
- What role does context play in interpretation?
A Different Perspective
Modern standards differ from historical norms.