The marriage of Prophet Muhammad to Aisha is well-documented in Islamic hadiths and historical texts. According to multiple hadiths, Aisha narrated that the Prophet married her when she was six years old and consummated the marriage when she was nine. This information is corroborated by several sources, including:

• Sahih Bukhari 5133: Narrated `Aisha: that the Prophet (ﷺ) married her when she was six years old and he consummated (sex) his marriage when she was nine years old.
• Sahih Muslim 3480 (INT 1422b): ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house when I was nine years old.
• Abu Dawud 2121: Narrated ‘Aishah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) married me when I was seven years old. The narrator Sulaiman said: or Six years. He had intercourse with me when I was nine years old.

These hadiths provide a consistent account of Aisha’s age at the time of her marriage and the consummation of that marriage. The practice of child marriage was not uncommon in pre-Islamic Arabia, and the Prophet’s actions were seen as aligning with the cultural norms of the time.

Quranic Permissions and Interpretations

The Quran and its interpretations provide some context for understanding the permissibility of such marriages. Quran 65:4 addresses the waiting period (iddah) for women who are divorced or whose husbands have died. It states:

“And for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their ‘Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise, except in case of death].”

This verse is interpreted by Islamic scholars to include young girls who have not yet reached puberty. For instance, Ibn Abbas, a renowned Quranic commentator, explained that the waiting period for young girls who have not menstruated is also three months. This interpretation suggests that the Quran permits marriages before puberty, as long as the waiting period is observed.

Prophetic Dreams and Divine Intervention

The hadiths also mention that Prophet Muhammad had dreams about Aisha before he married her. According to Sahih Bukhari 7012:

“Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, ‘You were shown to me twice (in my dream) before I married you. I saw an angel carrying you in a silken piece of cloth, and I said to him, ‘Uncover (her),’ and behold, it was you. I said (to myself), ‘If this is from Allah, then it must happen.'”

These dreams are interpreted as divine signs, suggesting that the marriage was not merely a cultural practice but also a divinely ordained event. This adds a layer of complexity to the ethical considerations, as it implies that the marriage was guided by a higher power.

The Silence of the Child as Consent

Another hadith, Tirmidhi 1107, states:

“A matron should not be given in marriage until she is consulted, and a virgin should not be given in marriage until her permission is sought, and her silence is her permission.”

This hadith suggests that a young girl’s silence or lack of protest is considered consent. While this may have been a practical approach in a patriarchal society, it raises modern concerns about the ability of young children to give informed consent.

Aisha’s Childhood and Play

Aisha’s hadiths also describe her playing with dolls even after her marriage to the Prophet. For example, Sahih Bukhari 6130 narrates:

“I used to play with the dolls in the presence of the Prophet, and my girl friends also used to play with me. When Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) used to enter (my dwelling place) they used to hide themselves, but the Prophet would call them to join and play with me.”

This description of Aisha’s childhood activities highlights the stark contrast between her role as a wife and her status as a child. It underscores the complex and often troubling nature of such early marriages.