How do we know what age is inappropriate to be married from Quran's perspective?
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Parwez
- AGE FOR NIKAAH.
According to the Holy Quran, the age for Nikaah is the age of puberty. The Quran has specifically mentioned (46) "You should, as their guardians, keep monitoring the orphans till they reach the age of Nikaah."
However, the Quran has not determined as to what can be the age of puberty besides other factors, as it differs in different climatic conditions. At yet another place it is stated as age of adolescence (6153) (1734) "until they reach the age of adolescence." What this age is, has been explained by the Quran at another place while pointing towards the different stages of human life. It is said (4067) "Then He brings you forth as an infant, then lets you reach the age of adolescence, then lets you become old."
Keeping the above verses in view, the matter becomes quite clear. In Surah An-Nisa (46) was said i.e., till they reach the age of Nikaah (adolescence) and in Surah An'aam has been said (6153) ' till they reach the age of adolescence and in (4067) this age has been interpreted as an age (6153) between childhood and old-age i.e. the adolescence; it thus becomes evident that according to Quran, the age of Nikaah is the age of puberty (adolescence). Thus the Quran has laid down the age of marriage as the age of puberty both for the boy and the girl.
Therefore the question of marriages of immature people (before they reach adolescence) does not arise. It is up to the Islamic Government to determine this age (according to its environmental circumstances).
- MUTUAL CONSENT.
Just as the age of puberty of both boy and girl is essential for the contract of marriage, likewise their mutual consent is also mandatory without it the contract of marriage cannot take place. About men it is said (413) "Marry the woman of your liking."
About women it is said (419) "It is not lawful for you to bring women into your wedlock forcibly (without their consent)."
Since the Nikaah cannot be solemnised in childhood, the question of appointing a guardian does not arise. However if the woman so desires she can appoint an attorney in order to settle affairs on her behalf. The statement in Surah Baqarah, (2237) "In whose hands is the marriage tie", means the attorney appointed by the woman, or the court itself having the power of dissolution of marriage.
Shabbir
THE MARRIAGEABLE AGE
The beginning of the physiological cycles in a girl and nocturnal emissions in a boy are commonly believed to be their age of marriage. To the unfortunate Mullah, everything revolves around sex. A Hadith of Bukhari atrociously tells us that a girl can have Nikah (the marital contract) at 6 and the marriage can be consummated at age 9 since the exalted Prophet did that with Hazrat Ayesha! Is there any wonder that the West call him a child-molester? Why don't then the Sunnah-peddlers "marry off" their daughters at 6 and 9? Many countries set an arbitrary 16 years for the girl and18 years for the boy. The Divine Wisdom enshrined in the Qur'an makes things so sensible. It sets up three rational criteria
1 - Sufficient maturity to grant consent.
2 - Ability to sign a legal contract.3 - Competence to take care of one's own finances.
46 Train and educate the orphans well and test them. When they reach the age of marriage and attain sound judgment, release their property to them. The marriageable age shall mean attainment of physical and mental maturity when one can legally make a solemn contract (421). -----.
419 O You who have chosen to be graced with belief! It is not lawful for you to force women into marrying or holding on to them in marriage against their will. --.
421 And how could you take the marital gift back from her after you have lived intimately with each other and after she has taken from you a very Solemn Pledge of the marital contract? -
Hi
If you cross reference Quranic ayaat then age of Nikaah is that of maturity (gain of strength ) and that is 40 yrs004.006
YUSUFALI Make trial of orphans until they reach the age of marriage; if then ye find sound judgment in them, release their property to them; but consume it not wastefully, nor in haste against their growing up. If the guardian is well-off, Let him claim no remuneration, but if he is poor, let him have for himself what is just and reasonable. When ye release their property to them, take witnesses in their presence But all-sufficient is Allah in taking account.
PICKTHAL Prove orphans till they reach the marriageable age; then, if ye find them of sound judgment, deliver over unto them their fortune; and devour it not by squandering and in haste lest they should grow up Whoso (of the guardians) is rich, let him abstain generously (from taking of the property of orphans); and whoso is poor let him take thereof in reason (for his guardianship). And when ye deliver up their fortune unto orphans, have (the transaction) witnessed in their presence. Allah sufficeth as a Reckoner.
SHAKIR And test the orphans until they attain puberty; then if you find in them maturity of intellect, make over to them their property, and do not consume it extravagantly and hastily, lest they attain to full age; and whoever is rich, let him abstain altogether, and whoever is poor, let him eat reasonably; then when you make over to them their property, call witnesses in their presence; and Allah is enough as a Reckoner.017.034
YUSUFALI Come not nigh to the orphan's property except to improve it, until he attains the age of full strength; and fulfil (every) engagement, for (every) engagement will be enquired into (on the Day of Reckoning).
PICKTHAL Come not near the wealth of the orphan save with that which is better till he come to strength; and keep the covenant. Lo! of the covenant it will be asked.
SHAKIR And draw not near to the property of the orphan except in a goodly way till he attains his maturity and fulfill the promise; surely (every) promise shall be questioned about.046.015
YUSUFALI We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam."
PICKTHAL And We have commended unto man kindness toward parents. His mother beareth him with reluctance, and bringeth him forth with reluctance, and the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months, till, when he attaineth full strength and reacheth forty years, he saith My Lord! Arouse me that I may give thanks for the favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and that I may do right acceptable unto Thee. And be gracious unto me in the matter of my seed. Lo! I have turned unto Thee repentant, and lo! I am of those who surrender (unto Thee).
SHAKIR And We have enjoined on man doing of good to his parents; with trouble did his mother bear him and with trouble did she bring him forth; and the bearing of him and the weaning of him was thirty months; until when he attains his maturity and reaches forty years, he says My Lord! grant me that I may give thanks for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may do good which pleases Thee and do good to me in respect of my offspring; surely I turn to Thee, and surely I am of those who submit. -
Hi --
If you cross reference Quranic ayaat then age of Nikaah is that of maturity (gain of strength ) and that is 40 yrs
046.015
YUSUFALI We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches the age of full strength and attains forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam."Quran - 4615
And We have enjoined on man to be dutiful
and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship
and she brings him forth with hardship,
and the bearing of him,
and the weaning of him is thirty months, till when he attains full strength
and reaches forty years, he says "My Lord! Grant me the power
and ability that I may be grateful for Your Favour which You have bestowed upon me
and upon my parents,
and that I may do righteous good deeds, such as please You,
and make my off-spring good. Truly, I have turned to You in repentance,
and truly, I am one of the Muslims."Separate events/phases ? childhood, full strength, maturity/wisdom at age forty, children?
Peace
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Peace Leoxyz,
This contradicts logic and reason since women will have a 70% chance of giving birth to children with defects after being 40. Reason must be used to understand the Quran, not blind interpretation.
The Wa/And between gaining strength/ashudda and being 40 years is thus better understood as a seperation not as a confirmation.
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Didn't people in the past only live till 30? That can't be a rule.
That's not what life expectancy means. That's the average lifespan at birth - but the most likely time a new born will die is in the first few months of its life. If it survives till puberty, then its life expectancy rises so it will live on average to the age of 50 or 60.
So trying to justify marriage at puberty by this is nonsense. Having a child in your early teens, then or now, will seriously lower your life expectancy. And in fact, puberty probably comes earlier today than it did in medieval times, due to the effects of the modern diet on our hormones.
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The best age for a woman to have children is around 25-27.