Question:
as-salaamu-alaykum
My question is regarding the debate regarding whether A’isha had reached physical maturity or puberty prior to the consummation of her marriage.
This article (http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Aisha_and_Puberty#Scriptural) claims in regards to multiple hadith in Bukhari:
In Arabic, the phrase “jariyathil hadeethaathil sanna” literally means “pre-pubertal girl of new/recent/young age”. The word “jariya” has several meanings, but only one can fit Aisha. It means a pre-pubertal girl, a singer, slave girl/woman, concubine, or maid….‘Jariya’ is sometimes translated as ‘young playful girl’, but it is never used to describe a mature woman, particularly one who is married, unless that person is below the age of puberty. ‘Jariya’ is also sometimes translated as ‘young girl’ or ‘young woman”.
Is this site correctly reporting the meaning of the word ‘jariya?
Answer:
`Alaykum Salam,
Wiki is generally unreliable on Islamic issues.
I addressed this particular topic before. See here and here.
There is no question and no doubt that she had reached puberty by the time of cohabitation. The only issue is about her age, whether at that time she was 9 as she stated herself in al-Bukhari and Muslim, or 15 as external indicators and other sources appear to concur on.
And Allah knows best.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
