Marriageable Age according to The Quran
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peace all,
http//misconceptions-about-islam.com/muhammad-married-young-girl.htm
I posted this link a while ago, but much to my surprise, there were not many follow up comments. When I first discovered this, i.e. the link between "shudud" and 46 I was blown away. Hence, I think it deserves its own thread.
What does The Quran say on the age of marriage?
The Quran does not state a specific legal age of marriage, however it does give a guideline and mentions situations and conditions that should be considered before marriage
Determining mutual attraction/compatibility
Ascertaining whether the potential partner is of similar beliefs/faith
Discussion of and agreeing to the level of dower and other terms (if any)
Understanding and acceptance of marriage as a solemn/strong oath/contract
If male, capable of providing for the family/household
To have physically matured / post-puberty
If the marriage is unsuccessful, one should also be capable of undertaking divorce proceedings, e.g. separation period, arbitration, discussion of settlement etc .We will discuss in more detail the verse which specifically mentions the issue of age. The context is the rights of orphans and their wealth
And do not give the imprudent/weak-minded your money which God has made for you a means of support, and spend on them from it and clothe them, and speak to them in goodness.
And test the orphans until they have reached marriageable age*, then if you determine in them sound judgment**, then give them their wealth, and do not deliberately consume it wastefully or quickly before they grow up. And whoever is rich, then let him abstain (from the wealth), and if he is poor then let him utilise by what is recognised as good/appropriate. So when you paid to them their wealth, so call a witness on them, and be aware God is accounting.*The Arabic word is "nikah" (marriage) and has an implied meaning of sex, hence some translators interpret it as 'reached sexual maturity' in this verse.
**Arabic word is "rushd" and its meanings include be well guided or directed, true direction, correct rule of action, straight forwardness, maturity of a child/intellect, capacity to manage one's affairs.Thus, the two conditions for giving the wealth to the orphans are
1- The reaching of marriageable age / sexual maturity.
2- The proving of sound judgement / capability in managing one's affairs.Interestingly, this implies that one could reach marriageable age / sexual maturity but still not have sound judgement, which is universally true and gives a possible reason why a specific age for marriage is not stated in The Quran. Based on this and other verses regarding marriage, it can be deduced that these two conditions can also be used as a guideline for when to consider marriage. The reason being, if we suppose after having reached marriageable age / sexual maturity an orphan is allowed to get married but their wealth is not given to them, this means they have been determined not to have sound judgement, yet they are being allowed to get married, which is logically inconsistent with the guidance in The Quran.
Please note, in 46 it also warns those entrusted with the wealth not to consume or waste it before they grow up, further reinforcing the idea that the period being referred to is when grown up. To conclusively prove this however, we can also look at other verses which discuss giving orphans the wealth owed to them . The Arabic word used in these verses is when they are "shudud", which means physical maturity / the period from adolescence to adulthood. Since the orphans can only receive their wealth once "shudud", and from 46 we know they become eligible for it after having reached marriageable age, this can only mean marriageable age begins from adolescence onwards. There is no other possibility.
This conclusion can also be verified in the story of Jospeh, who when first found in the well was a boy (Arabic ghulam, see 1219), then taken into care, then when he reached "shudud" (i.e. became physically mature) the female of the household tried to seduce him .
In addition, the usage of this word "shudud" in The Quran suggests reasonable physical strength, i.e. at least several years into adolescence which also agrees with most Classical Arabic dictionaries which average about from the age of 17 for the word "shudud", which also happens to coincide with when a significant number of orphans would meet the two conditions for receiving their wealth. Many countries begin to grant extra rights at the age of 16, and many give full rights at 18, so this seems fairly close to worldwide practice.To conclude, it is proven beyond doubt by The Quran that one must be physically mature and be of sound judgement in order to get married.
I strongly recommend spreading this to others, especially Traditional Muslims as it just smashes the commonly accepted view. I have also recently discovered some further information which reinforces the above, which I will post in another thread.
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Thus, the two conditions for giving the wealth to the orphans are
1- The reaching of marriageable age / sexual maturity.
2- The proving of sound judgement / capability in managing one's affairs.http//haqeeqat.org.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/00.Arabic%20Text/012.%20Yusuf%20alahissalam/12.22.gif
And when he/Yusuf crossed over to his strengthened maturity/became fully grown man, We gave him wisdom the capability to judge/decision and knowledge;http//haqeeqat.org.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/00.Arabic%20Text/028.%20Al%20Qasas/28.14.gif
And when he crossed over to his strengthened maturity and he made himself fully established/became fully grown man, We gave him wisdom, the capability to judge/decision and knowledge;And then at both places it is said
http//haqeeqat.org.pk/English%20Tafsir%20e%20Haqeeqat/00.Arabic%20Text/006.%20Al%20Anaam/temp%2002%206.084e.gifThe point in time is when he had already entered into his strengthened maturity which is defined as having made himself fully established.
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I think I get you now, you are saying once he had entered into maturity, then he was given wisdom etc.
If so, I agree that would be the most common sequence of events.
I was trying to elaborate, your point of internal cross referencing, to know the meanings of word "ashuddahu" for better understanding the age of marriage. Marraiage is allowed between a man and woman. And a male is called Man only when he has crossed over to strenghtened maturity.Thanks.
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peace all,
http//misconceptions-about-islam.com/muhammad-married-young-girl.htm
I posted this link a while ago, but much to my surprise, there were not many follow up comments. When I first discovered this, i.e. the link between "shudud" and 46 I was blown away. Hence, I think it deserves its own thread.
I strongly recommend spreading this to others, especially Traditional Muslims as it just smashes the commonly accepted view. I have also recently discovered some further information which reinforces the above, which I will post in another thread.
Peace wakas. Are you the Author of that website? It's very good.
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I am the author of most of the content. Some of it is a compilation of existing content. Some others have added a little here and there.
Keep it up. We need more of those. We must Spread the true message of GOD. muscle handshake
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I recently learned that Imam Abu Hanifa (the principle person the Hanafi madhab/school is based on) considered the age of maturity to be eighteen generally (but added it can vary from place to place, person to person).
I think it is the age when skeleton - rib cage is increased to its maximum size,
