Muhammad: A Mercy For All Mankind?

PEDOPHILIA IS ALLOWED NOT FOR MUHAMMAD ONLY, BUT FOR EVERYONE

The Qur’an claims that Muhammad is a mercy for all creatures: 

We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures. S. 21:107 Y. Ali

The case with Aisha is an actual proof that Muhammad was anything but a mercy. For instance, recall that in the above cited traditions Muhammad left Aishaa childless widow at the age of eighteen. What makes this so terrible is that Muhammad passed on a command forbidding anyone from marrying any of his widows!

O ye who believe! Enter not the Prophet's houses, -until leave is given you, - for a meal, (and then) not (so early as) to wait for its preparation: but when ye are invited, enter; and when ye have taken your meal, disperse, without seeking  familiar talk. Such (behaviour) annoys theProphet: he is ashamed to dismiss you, but God is not ashamed (to tell you) the truth. And when ye ask (his ladies) for anything ye want, ask them from before a screen: that makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs. Nor is it right for you that ye should annoy God's Apostle, or that ye should marry his widows after him at any time. Truly such a thing is in God'ss ight an enormity. S. 33:53 Y. Ali

Ibn Kathir wrote regarding this passage: 

"This was revealed concerning a man who wanted to marry one of the wives of the Prophet after he died. A man said to Sufyan, `Was it `A'ishah?' He said, `That is what they said.’" This was also stated by Muqatil bin Hayyan and `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. He also reported with his chain of narration from As-Suddi that the one who wanted to do this was Talhah bin `Ubaydullah, may Allah be pleased with him, until this Ayah was revealed forbidding that. Hence the scholars were unanimous in stating that it was forbidden for anyone to marry any of the women who were married to the Messenger of Allah at the time when he died, because they are his wives in this world and in the Here after, and they are the Mothers of the believers, as stated previously. Allah regarded thatas a very serious matter, and issued the sternest of warnings against it… (Source) 

One Shia website writes: 

We read in Tafseer Durre Manthur under the commentary "It is not permissible to pain the Prophet that: 
"this verse descended in honour of Talha who expressed his intention of marrying Ayesha in the eventuality of Rasulullah (s)  dying".

We read the remarkable words of Talha in Tafseer Mazhari: 

"Talha said, "Muhammad refrains us from marrying our cousin's, and yet marries our women when we die, after his death we shall marry his wives'after this, the verse descended "You cannot marry the wives of Rasulullah". (Source) 

And according to the authors of The True Guidance: 

Al-Suyuti said in Asbab al-Nuzul: "Talha came to one of  the Prophet’s wives and talked with her; he was her cousin. But Muhammad said to him: ‘You will never do this again.’ Talha said: ‘But she is my cousin, and Allah knows that neither I nor she said anything abominable.’ But Muhammad said: ‘There is none more jealous than Allah, there is none more jealous than me.’ He left, and after that he said: ‘On the death of Muhammad I will surely marry Aisha after him.’When Muhammad heard about it, he said: ‘…neither marry his wives after him.’" (The True Guidance (Part Five) Comments on Qur’anic Verses [Light of Life, P.O. Box 13, A-9503, Villach, Austria, First English edition:1994], p. 236) 

Thus, Muhammad’s jealousy led him to have a "revelation" forbidding his wives from ever remarrying. In this Muhammad contradicts the Holy Bible which states: 

"Do you not know, brothers - for I am speaking to men who know the law - that the lawhas authority over a man only as long as he lives? For example, by law a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man." Romans 7:1-3 NIV

Aisha wasn’t the only one to suffer this rather unfortunate fate. Muhammad married a Jewess named Safiyyah after the former killed her family at the battle of Khaybar: 

The apostle seized the property piece by piece and conquered the forts one by one as he came to them. The first to fall was the fort of Na‘im; there Mahmud b. Maslama was killed by a millstone which wasthrown on him from it; then al-Qamus the fort of B. Abu’l-Huqayq. The apostle took captives from them among whom was Safiya d. Huyayy b. Akhtab who had been the wife of Kinana b. al-Rabi’ b. Abu’l-Huqayq, and two cousins of hers. The apostle chose Safiya for himself. Dihya b. Khalifa al-Kalbi had asked the apostle for Safiya, and when he chose her for himself he gave him her two cousins. The women of Khaybar were distributed among the Muslims.The Muslims ate the meat of the domestic donkeys and the apostle got up and forbade the people to do a number of things which enumerated. (Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad, p. 511) 

When the apostle married Safiya in Khaybar or on the way, she having been beautified and combed, and got in a fit state for the apostle by Umm Sulaym d. Milhan mother of Anas b. Malik, the apostle passed the night with her in a tent of his. Abu Ayyub, Khalid b. Zayd brother of B.al-Najjar passed the night girt with his sword, guarding the apostle and going round the tent until in the morning the apostle saw him and asked him what he meant by his action. He replied, ‘I was afraid for you with this woman for you have killed her father, her husband, and her people, and till recently she was in unbelief, so I was afraid for you on her account.’ They allege that the apostle said ‘O God, preserve Abu Ayyub as he spent the night preserving me.’ (Ibid., pp. 516-517) 
He married Safiya d. Huyay b. Akhtab whom he had captured at Khaybar and chosen for himself. The apostle made a feast of grueland dates: there was no meat or fat. She had been married to Kinana b. al-Rabi‘b. Abu’l-Huqayq. (Ibid., pp. 793-794) 

Narrated 'Abdul 'Aziz: Anas said, 'When Allah's Apostle invaded Khaibar, we offered the Fajr prayer there early in the morning) when it was still dark. The Prophet rode and Abu Talha rode too and I was riding behind Abu Talha. The Prophet passed through the lane of Khaibar quickly and my knee was touching the thigh of the Prophet. He uncovered his thigh and I saw the whiteness of the thigh of the Prophet. When he entered the town, he said,'Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is ruined. Whenever we approach near a (hostile) nation(to fight) then evil will be the morning of those who have been warned.' He repeated this thrice. The people came out for their jobs and some of them said, 'Muhammad (has come).' (Some of our companions added, "With his army.") We conquered Khaibar, took the captives, and the booty was collected. Dihya came and said, 'O Allah's Prophet! Give me a slave girl from the captives.' The Prophet said, 'Go and take any slave girl.' He took Safiya bint Huyai. A man came to the Prophet and said, 'O Allah's Apostles! You gave Safiya bint Huyai to Dihya and she is the chief mistress of the tribes of Quraiza and An-Nadir and she befits none but you.' So the Prophet said, 'Bring him along with her.' So Dihya came with her and when the Prophet saw her, he said to Dihya, 'Take any slave girl other than her from the captives.' Anas added: The Prophet then manumitted her and married her." 
Thabit asked Anas, "O Abu Hamza! What did the Prophet pay her (as Mahr)?" He said, "Her self was her Mahr for he manumitted her and then married her." Anas added, "While on the way, Um Sulaim dressed her for marriage (ceremony) and at night she sent her as a bride to the Prophet. So the Prophet was a bridegroom and he said, 'Whoever has anything (food) should bring it.' He spread out a leather sheet (for the food) and some brought dates and others cooking butter. (I think he (Anas) mentioned As-Sawiq). So they prepared a dish of Hais (a kind of meal). And that was Walrma (the marriage banquet) of Allah's Apostle." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 367) 

Narrated Anas bin Malik: We arrived at Khaibar, and when Allah helped His Apostle to open the fort, the beauty of Safiya bint Huyai bin Akhtaq whose husband had been killed while she was a bride, was mentioned to Allah's Apostle. The Prophet selected her for himself, and set out with her, and when we reached a place called Sidd-as-Sahba,' Safiya became clean from her menses then Allah's Apostle married her. Hais (i.e. an'Arabian dish) was prepared on a small leather mat. Then the Prophet said tome, "I invite the people around you." So that was the marriage banquet of the Prophet and Safiya. Then we proceeded towards Medina, and I saw the Prophet, making  for hera kind of cushion with his cloak behind him (on his camel). He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride (onthe camel). (Sahih Al-Bukhari,Volume 5, Book 59, Number 522) 

According to Muslim sources, Muhammad’s attack on the Khaybar Jews took place in 630 AD (7 AH). (Cf. Guillaume, p. 510) 

When Muhammad came to Medina in the year 623 AD (A.H. 1), Safiyyah was young: 

He took them past the water hole of Liqf, then downto Madlajatu Mahaj (276), then past Marjih, Mahaj, then down to Marjih of Dhu’l-Ghadwayn (277), then the valley of Dhu Kashr; then by al-Jadajid, then al-Ajrad, then Dhu Salam of the valley of A‘da’, the water hole of Ta‘hin, thenby al-Ababid (278), then by way of al-Fajja (279). Then he took them down toal-‘Arj; and one of their mounts having dropped behind, a man of Aslam, Aus b.Hujr by name, took the prophet to Medina on his camel which was called Ibnal-Rida’, sending with him a servant called Mas‘ud b. Hunayda. From ‘Arj the guide took them to Thaniyyatu’l-A’ir (280) to the right of Rakuba until he brought them down to the valleyof Ri’m; thence toQuba’ to B. ‘Amr b. ‘Auf on Monday 12^th Rabi‘u’l-awwal at high noon. (Guillaume, pp. 226-227) 

‘Abdullah b. Abu Bakr b. Muhammad b. ‘Amr b. Hazmtold me that he was told that Safiya d. Huyayy b. Akhtab said ‘I was the favourite child of my father and y uncle Abu Yasir. When I was present they took no notice of their other children. When the apostle was staying in Quba’ with B. ‘Amr b. ‘Auf, the two went to see him before day break and didnot return until after nightfall, weary, worn out, drooping and feeble.’ I wentup to them in childish pleasure as I always did, and they were so sun kin gloom that they took no notice of me. I heard my uncle say to my father,"Is he he? Do you recognize him, and can you be sure?" "Yes!" "And what do you say about him?" "By God Ishall be his enemy as long as I live!"’ (Ibid., pp. 241-242) 

Thus, we can safely assume that Safiyyah was still young, perhaps in her mid to late teens, when Muhammad married her. Muhammad died in 632 AD (AH 9) or roughly two years after marrying Safiyyah. One Muslim website says that she was seventeen when Muhammad married her, meaning that she was roughly twenty when he died: 

Safiyah was born in Medinah. She belonged to the Jewish tribe of Banu 'I-Nadir. When this tribe was expelled from Medinah in the year 4 A.H,Huyaiy was one of those who settled in the fertile colony of Khaibar together with Kinana ibn al-Rabi' to whom Safiyah was married a little before the Muslims attacked Khaibar. She was then seventeen. She had formerly been the wife of Sallam ibn Mishkam, who divorced her. (Source) 

In other words, Muhammad not only took Safiyya has his wife after killing her family and husband, but he also left her a young widow for the rest of her life! 

To see what Muhammad did to Safiyyah’s husband, please read this article. 

Muhammad also had a "revelation" forbidding his wives from leavingtheir homes: 

O wives of the Prophet! you are not like any other of the women; If you will be on your guard, then be not soft in (your) speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease yearn; and speak a good word. AND STAY IN YOUR HOUSES and do not display your finery like the displaying of the ignorance of yore; and keep up prayer, and pay the poor-rate, and obey Allah and His Apostle. Allah only desires to keep away the uncleanness from you, O people of the House! and to purify you a (thorough) purifying. S. 33:32-33 Shakir

Here, again, are Ibn Kathir’s comments: 

means, stay in your houses and do not come out except for a purpose. One of the purposes mentioned in Shari`ah is prayer in the Masjid, so long asthe conditions are fulfilled, as the Messenger of Allah said…
According to another report…
(Source) 

For more on this subject, we highly recommend this Shia article. 
According to Muslim sources, Aisha died in the year 678 AD., at the approximate age of 66 (source). Al-Tabari wrote: 

‘A’isha died in Ramadan 58/ June-July 678… 

According to Muhammad b. ‘Umar [al-Waqidi]: ‘A’ishah died on Tuesday night, the 17^th of Ramadan 58/July 13, 678, and was buried the same night after the night prayer. She was then sixty-six years old. (The History of Al-Tabari, Volume XXXIX, p. 173) 

This means that Aisha was to remain a childless widow, locked in her house, till the day she died. Aisha lived as a widow for 47 years till she died! 

Far from being an act of mercy, this was one of the worst curses a young maidenc ould ever experience in her life. To think that women such as Aisha and Safiyyah never had the joy of raising their own children or of having a husband to comfort them and meet all their needs for the rest of their lives is trulyheart wrenching to say the least. 

Yet, sadly, we are sure that this won’t bother many Muslims since they are accustomed to believing that everything Muhammad did was by divine inspiration. They assume that he was a true prophet and so whatever he did must be right after all. But we trust that other Muslims who are open to the truth can see that Muhammad marrying Aisha and Safiyyah was a curse that they had to live with till they died. 

For more on Muhammad’s marriages and his wives, we recommended the following articles: 

http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/abulkazem/holy_family.htm
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/abulkazem/reply_to_apologist.htm
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/safiyah.htm
http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/SKM/zeinab.htm

But Wait, There Is More! 

Before concluding this part, we must mention that Muhammad wasn’t the only one whom Allah allegedly "gave permission"to marry a prepubescent girl. The readers may be shocked to discover that the Qur’an actually permits other Muslims to marry prepubescent girls also! Note carefully what the following verse says: 

And if you are in doubt as to the prescribed periodf or such of your women as have despaired of monthly courses, then know that the prescribed period for them is three months, and also for such as do not have their monthly courses yet. And as for those who are with child, their period shall be until they are delivered of their burden. And whoso fears ALLAH, HE will provide facilities for him in his affair. S. 65:4 Sher Ali

The surrounding context deals with the issue of the waiting period for divorce, and remarriage. The Qur’an is telling Muslims to wait for a certain period oftime before making the divorce final or deciding to forego it. The Qur’an exhorts men to wait a period of three months in the case of women who either are no longer menstruating or haven’t even started their menstrual cycles! Thus, Islam permits mento marry prepubescent girls and even divorce them if they so choose! 

We find the following narration in Sahih Al-Bukhari: 

Narrated Sahl bin Sad: While we were sitting in the company of the Prophet a woman came to him and presented herself (for marriage)to him. The Prophet looked at her, lowering his eyes and raising them, but did not give a reply. One of his companions said, "Marry her to me O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet asked (him), "Have you got anything?" He said, "I have got nothing." The Prophet said, "Not even an iron ring?" He said, "Not even an iron ring, but I will tear my garment into two halves and give her one half and keep the other half." TheProphet; said, "No. Do you know some of the Qur’an (by heart)?" He said, "Yes." The Prophet said, "Go, I have agreed to marry her to you with what you know of the Qur'an (as her Mahr)." 'And for those who have no courses (i.e. they are still immature). (65.4) And the 'Iddat for the girlBEFORE PUBERTY is three months (in the above Verse). (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 62,Number 63) 

Ibn Kathir writes regarding this verse: … (Source) 

A prominent Salafi Muslim site states: 

Firstly: 

Marriage to a young girl before she reaches puberty is permissible according to sharee'ah, and it was narrated that there was scholarly consensus on this point. 

1 - Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

"And those of your women as have passed theage of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubt (about their periods), is three months; and for those who have no courses[(i.e. they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise" [al-Talaaq 65:4]

In this verse we see that Allaah states that forthose who do not menstruate - because they are young and have not yet reached the age of puberty - the 'iddah in the case of divorce is three months. This clearly indicates that it is permissible for a young girl who has not started her periods to marry. 

Al-Tabari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 
The interpretation of the verse "And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubt (about their periods), is three months; and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise". He said: The same applies to the 'idaah for girls who do not menstruate because they are too young, if their husbands divorce them after consummating the marriage with them. Tafseer al-Tabari, 14/142

2 - It was narrated from 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married her when she was six years old, and consummated the marriage with her when she was nine, and she stayed with him for nine years. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4840; Muslim, 1422. 

Ibn 'Abd al-Barr said: The scholars are unanimously agreed that a father may marry off his young daughter without consulting her.The Messenger of Allaah married 'Aa'ishah bint Abi Bakr when she was young, six or seven years old, when her father married her to him. 
Al-Istidhkaar, 16/49-50. 

Secondly: 

The fact that it is permissible to marry a minor girl does not imply that it is permissible to have intercourse with her, rather the husband should not have intercourse with her until she becomes able for that. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) delayed consummating the marriage to 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her). 
And Allaah knows best. 

Islam Q&A (www.islam-qa.com) (Question #12708: Is it acceptable to marry a girl who has not yet started her menses?) 

The last point ties in with the sources we quoted above that mentioned Muhammad's practice of "thighing" Aisha because she wasn't ready for consummation. Another article on the same site states: 

Marrying a young girl before she reaches the age of adolescence is permitted in sharee'ah; indeed it was narrated that there was scholarly consensus on this point. 

(a) Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

"And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the 'Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubt (about their periods), is three months; and for those who have no courses[(i.e. they are still immature) their 'Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise"  [al-Talaaq 65:4] 

In this verse we see that Allaah has made the 'iddah in the case of divorce of a girl who does not have periods - because she is young and has not yet reached puberty - three months. This clearly indicates that Allaah has made this a valid marriage. 

(b) It was narrated from 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Prophet( peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) married her when she was six yearsold, he consummated the marriage with her when she was nine and she stayed with him for nine years. (Narrated byal-Bukhaari, 4840; Muslim, 1422) 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be uponhim) married 'Aa'ishah when she was six years old and consummated the marriage when she was nine." (Narrated byal-Bukhaari and Muslim; Muslim says 'seven years') 

The fact that it is permissible to marry a young girl does not mean that it is permissible to have intercourse with her; rather that should not be done until she is able for it. For that reason the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) delayed the consummation of his marriage to 'Aa'ishah. Al-Nawawi said: With regard to the wedding-party of a young married girl at the time of consummating the marriage, if the husband and the guardian of the girl agree upon something that will not cause harm to the young girl, then that may be done. If they disagree, then Ahmad and Abu 'Ubayd say that once a girl REACHES THE AGE OF NINE then the marriage may be consummated EVEN WITHOUT HER CONSENT, but that does not apply in the case of who is younger. Maalik, al-Shaafa'i and Abu Haneefah said: the marriage may be consummated when the girl is able for intercourse, which varies from one girl to another, SO NO AGE LIMIT CAN BE SET. THIS IS THE CORRECT VIEW. There is nothing in the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah to set an age limit, or to forbid that in the case of a girl who is able for it before the age of nine, or to allow it in the case of a girl who is not able for it and has reached the age of nine. Al-Dawoodi said: 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) was [sic] reached physical maturity (at the time when her marriage was consummated). (Question #22442: On acting; and the ruling on marrying young girls) 

Taking the supposed correct view as a given this means that a person can actually engage a girl of seven in sex provided that she can handle it! 

Actually, this raises a number of uncomfortable questions: Who decides when she is ready? Judging by the above quotations, being ready for intercourse is apparently defined in a merely physical way. Does it simply mean that the penis is able to slide in without tearing her up? Are other biological and psychological aspects of maturity of any concern at all?Furthermore, by what method is the husband supposed to test whether or not she is ready now? How many times should he be trying to penetrate her only to discover it doesn't work yet? How much damage is that doing to al ittle girl? This article gives more information on various relevant aspects of maturity. 

For more on this entire subject, we recommend this newsgroup discussion. 

This isn’t the only Muslim website which acknowledges that Islam permits marriages with minors. Here is another site that does so as well: 

Second marriage possible under these conditions. i would like to marry a woman who is 12 years old, her father and she has also agreed. What is your advise? 

I am 45 and married to already 15 years now after the sexual desire of my woman has nearly gone I am looking to marry again. And I would like to marry a woman who is 12 years old, her father and she has also agreed, my first wife told me that it could make problems if it will be a big different in age, and also some of my children are older than my second wife. What is your advise ? And is it allowed for me to have already sexual intercourse with these woman after we are married or to I have to wait till she reach at special age? 

Answer 6737 2002-10-01

According to the Shari’ah, if a girl is a minor(did not attain puberty), she may be given in marriage by her father. When she attains puberty, she has the right to maintain the marriage or discontinue the marriage. There is no age limit to be intimate with one’s wife even if she is a minor. It is important for you, in your situation, to consider the age difference reservation expressed by your wife. and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best. Mufti Ebrahim Desai. (Islam Q&A Online With Mufti Ebrahim Desai,Darul Ifta, Madrasah In’aamiyah, Camperdown, South Africa; source; dated 2002-10-01; accessed 19 December 2005) 

More importantly, the Qur’an teaches that there is no waiting period for marriages that have not been consummated: 

O you who believe: When you marry believing women and then divorce them before you have touched them, no period of idda (waiting) have you to count in respect of them: so give them a present and set them free in a graceful manner. S.33:49

The foregoing indicates that the waiting period could only be applicable if the man has actually slept with the young prepubescent girl! In other words, Islam is allowing men to have sex with minors, legally sanctioning pedophilia! 

In the next part, we will examine and address the typical Muslim responses and defenses of Muhammad’s marriage to a nine-year-old girl. Continue with Part 2: Analyzing the Claims of Muslim Polemicists. I

Endnotes

[1] According al-Tabari, Muhammad didn’t marry Umm Habiba because it turned out that her father was his foster-brother: 

… He proposed to Umm Habib bt. al-‘Abbas b. ‘Abdal-Muttalib, but discovered that al-‘Abbas was his foster-brother; Thuwaybahhad nursed them both… (The History ofAl-Tabari, Volume IX, p. 140) 

Be that as it may, it is quite clear that Muhammad had every intention of marrying her up until the point he realized that she was his foster-niece. Hence, this doesn’t change the fact that Muhammad wanted to marry a girl whom he saw crawling before his eyes. 

Original source: http://answering-islam.org/Shamoun/prepubescent.htm

IHS