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Fatwa CenterProphet's marriage to 'Aa'ishah at an early age
Question
Had 'Aa'ishah (R) reached puberty when she married Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and did Prophet engage with her (R) in intercourse when she was only nine years old? Is it lawful to have sexual relations with a 9-year-old wife or it is unlawful? Why do many of the Kuffar (unbelievers) say that our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was a pedophile? Do they have proof for that or is it only to damage Islam?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
For details about the marriage of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, please read Fatwas 81505 and when she married">82962, which state that,"The Prophet married 'Aa'ishah 
[i.e., was engaged to her] when she was six and entered into marital relations with her as his wife when she was nine. When he died she was eighteen years old." "Married her when she was six" means got engaged to her and getting engaged to a girl child is lawful in Islam according to the scholars' consensus. He brought her to wedded life when she was nine.
Some of the enemies of Islam try to spread rumors and lies about this marriage. They say, "How could a man like Prophet Muhammad, marry a girl who is still playing on her swing like 'Aa'ishah?" We are not surprised to hear this from the detractors of Islam whose hearts are full of hatred to Islam and to Muslims. Know that the Prophet did not marry 'Aa'ishah except when Allaah The Almighty ordered him to do so. Imaam Al-Bukhari and Muslim 
reported from 'Aa'ishah that she said that the Prophet said to her: "You were shown to me twice in my sleep. I saw you wearing a piece of cloth made of silk. Then someone said, ‘This is your wife.’ I took off the cloth. I found that it was you. I said: ‘If this is from Allaah may He execute it.’" No doubt that the dream of the Prophet is a revelation from Allaah The Almighty.
Second, 'Aa'ishah was the daughter of his closest and dearest companion Abu Bakr 
who put his wealth and even his own life at stake for the Prophet . Third, 'Aa'ishah was already a menstruating girl just like any other adult girl when the Prophet took her to wedded life. In the environment where she grew up, girls menstruated at an early age, and thus entered womanhood. Last, but not least, the Prophet married 'Aa'ishah to teach the Muslims that any girl who reaches the age of womanhood can get married.
Allaah Knows best.
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