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[[Islamic Law|Islamic law]] permits [[Child Marriage in Islamic Law|child marriage]].


In many Islamic countries, child marriages are common practice. Girls far below the age of puberty are often forcibly [[Marriage|married]] to older persons (sometimes in their 50s and later), often for various personal gains by the girls' guardian or with the intention to preserve family [[Honor Violence|honor]] by helping her avoid pre-marital [[sex]]. Islamic child marriages are most prevalent in Pakistan and Afghanistan, followed by other countries in the Middle East and Bangladesh.<ref>[http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=1631 America Magazine: Child Marriage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, by Andrew Bushell; March 11, 2002]</ref><ref>[http://www.americansforunfpa.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=630 Americans For UNFPA: Virtual Slavery: The Practice of “Compensation Marriages” by Net Community of AfUNFPA; last retrieved Monday, 08 December 2008]</ref> This practice may also be prevalent to a lesser extent amongst other Islamic communities, and is on the rise among the growing Muslim populations in many non-Muslim countries, such as the United Kingdom.<ref name="Ten-fold rise in forced marriages in just four years" />
In many Islamic countries and around the world, child marriages are common practice. Girls below the age of 18, and often far below the age of puberty are forcibly [[Marriage|married]] to older persons (sometimes in their 50s and later), often for various personal gains by the girls' guardian or with the intention to preserve family [[Honor violence|honor]] by helping her avoid pre-marital [[sex]].
 
[[Child Marriage in Islamic Law|Islamic law permits child marriage]]. Jurists agreed that a father may compel his pre-pubescent virgin daughter to enter into a marriage contract. The family was to hand her over for consummation when they judged her physically able to withstand intercourse without physical harm rather than being linked to a particular age. See the article [[Forced Marriage]] for more detail and for sources of help for those at risk.<ref>For example [https://www.mwnuk.co.uk/Forced_Marriage_7_factsheets.php Muslim Women's Network UK] and [https://preventforcedmarriage.org/forced-marriage-overseas-pakistan/ Tahirih Justice Center Forced Marriage Initiative]</ref>
 
The prevalence of child marriage involving under 18s is decreasing globally, but is still widespread according to Unicef, affecting millions of girls annually, as well as boys to a much lesser extent.<ref>[https://www.unicef.org/protection/child-marriage Child marriage] - Unicef.org (accessed November 2022)</ref> According to Unicef, "Many factors interact to place a child at risk of marriage, including poverty, the perception that marriage will provide ‘protection’, family honor, social norms, customary or religious laws that condone the practice, an inadequate legislative framework and the state of a country’s civil registration system." Data available on their website indicates that marriage of girls under 18 and under 15 is common in many predominantly Muslim countries, and similarly in many predominantly Christian countries in Africa, in India (among Hindus as well as Muslims) and to a lesser extent in Latin America and the Caribbean.<ref>[https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/ Child marriage data] - Unicef.org (accessed November 2022)</ref>
 
The practice also exists on a much smaller scale among Muslim populations in some non-Muslim countries such as the United Kingdom, where hundreds of girls under the age of 18 are taken overseas to be forcibly married each year (as well as young adults; the Hanafi and Hanbali schools of Islamic law require consent before post-pubescent virgins are given in marriage, though such rules are often flouted).<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forced-marriage-unit-statistics https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/forced-marriage-unit-statistics] - UK government Forced Marriage Unit</ref>
 
Today, [[w:Marriageable_age|many modern Muslim countries]] have legislated to raise the minimum age of marriage, commonly to the age of 16 or 18 for girls (though often with loopholes or with ineffective enforcement) and to prevent forced marriage. This has often happened in the face of [[Child_Marriage_in_the_Muslim_World#Conclusion|opposition from traditional Islamic scholars]]. Many Muslim campaign groups and charities have been involved in this progress and continue to offer help to those at risk. In 2019 in collaboration with activists, the deputy Grand Imam of al-Azhar University in Cairo issued a fatwa calling for marriage based on mutual consent with a minimum age set as 18.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/jun/21/senior-islamic-cleric-issues-fatwa-against-child-marriage Senior Islamic cleric issues fatwa against child marriage] - Guardian.com</ref>


==Statistics==
==Statistics==
'''PLEASE NOTE: The information below dates to the first decade of the 21st century. For more up to date information on the prevalence of child marriage compiled by Unicef, see [https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-marriage/ here]. A number of countries have since taken steps to raise the minimum age of marriage. For information on this see the table on the Wikipedia page [[w:Marriageable_age|Marriageable Age]].'''


'''Afghanistan'''
'''Afghanistan'''
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'''Canada'''
'''Canada'''


According to an article in the ''Toronto Sun'', Muslim child brides in [[Canada]] are on the rise:
According to an article in the ''Toronto Sun'', Muslim child brides in Canada are on the rise:


{{Quote|2=Federal immigration officials say there’s little they can do to stop “child brides” from being sponsored into Canada by much older husbands who wed them in arranged marriages abroad.
{{Quote|2=Federal immigration officials say there’s little they can do to stop “child brides” from being sponsored into Canada by much older husbands who wed them in arranged marriages abroad.
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{{Quote||Yemen is full of child brides. Roughly half of Yemeni girls are married before 18, some as young as eight.<ref>Carla Power - [http://www.yementimes.com/DefaultDET.aspx?i=1207&p=report&a=1 Nujood Ali & Shada Nasser win “Women of the Year Fund 2008 Glamour Award”] - Glamour Magazine, November 13, 2008</ref>}}
{{Quote||Yemen is full of child brides. Roughly half of Yemeni girls are married before 18, some as young as eight.<ref>Carla Power - [http://www.yementimes.com/DefaultDET.aspx?i=1207&p=report&a=1 Nujood Ali & Shada Nasser win “Women of the Year Fund 2008 Glamour Award”] - Glamour Magazine, November 13, 2008</ref>}}


==Justification by Muslims==
==Traditional Islamic Justification==


===Permitted in the Qur'an===
===Permitted in the Qur'an===
{{main|Pedophilia in the Qur'an}}
{{main|Child Marriage in Islamic Law|Child Marriage in the Qur'an}}


Muslims justify child marriages using verses from the [[Quran|Qur'an]], that clearly advocate the practice. The Qur'an cannot be questioned by Muslims since it's not simply considered to be 'inspired'. but the very words of [[Allah]], uttered by his final messenger [[Muhammad]]. In Islam, moral relativism cannot be applied, as the Qur'an is Allah's eternal message to mankind and is as relevant today as it were when the [[revelations]] first escaped Muhammad lips.
Traditional Quran commentators and jurists have been essentially unanimous that child marriages are permitted in the [[Quran|Qur'an]].


{{Quote|{{Quran|65|4}}|And (as for) those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time shall be three months, '''and of those too who have not had their <i>courses</i>'''; and (as for) the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they lay down their burden; and whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah He will make easy for him his affair.}}
{{Quote|{{Quran|65|4}}|And (as for) those of your women who have despaired of menstruation, if you have a doubt, their prescribed time shall be three months, '''and of those too who have not had their <i>courses</i>'''; and (as for) the pregnant women, their prescribed time is that they lay down their burden; and whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah He will make easy for him his affair.}}
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The term "courses" mentioned above (indicated in '''<i>bold italic</i>''' text) is most accurately translated as "menstruation", which is the exact meaning of the Arabic word used in that context (i.e. 'Yaĥiđna يَحِضْنَ).  
The term "courses" mentioned above (indicated in '''<i>bold italic</i>''' text) is most accurately translated as "menstruation", which is the exact meaning of the Arabic word used in that context (i.e. 'Yaĥiđna يَحِضْنَ).  


===Permitted by Muslim Scholars and Leaders===
===Permitted by Muslim Scholars===
{{main|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Pedophilia}}
{{main|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Child Marriage}}


{{Quote|Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh|It is incorrect to say that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger. A girl aged 10 or 12 can be married. Those who think she's too young are wrong and they are being unfair to her. <br><br>We hear a lot in the media about the marriage of underage girls. We should know that Shariah law has not brought injustice to women.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/17/saudi.child.marriage/index.html?iref=newssearch Top Saudi cleric: OK for young girls to wed] - CNN, January 17, 2009</ref>}}
{{Quote|Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh|It is incorrect to say that it's not permitted to marry off girls who are 15 and younger. A girl aged 10 or 12 can be married. Those who think she's too young are wrong and they are being unfair to her. <br><br>We hear a lot in the media about the marriage of underage girls. We should know that Shariah law has not brought injustice to women.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/17/saudi.child.marriage/index.html?iref=newssearch Top Saudi cleric: OK for young girls to wed] - CNN, January 17, 2009</ref>}}
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===Committed by Muhammad===
===Committed by Muhammad===


:''Main Article: [[Muhammad and the Clinical Definition of Pedophilia]]''
:''Main Article: [[Aisha Age of Consummation|Muhammad's marriage to Aisha]]''


Another justification is that Muhammad, who is considered the [[Uswa Hasana]] (perfect example) by all Muslims, at the age of 53 or 54, also indulged in a pedophilic marriage with [[Aisha]], a 9 year old girl.  
Another justification used by scholars is that Muhammad, who is considered the [[Uswa Hasana]] (perfect example) by all Muslims, then in his early 50s, married [[Aisha]], when she was a 6 year old girl and consummated the marriage when she was 9.  


{{Quote|{{Muslim|8|3311}}|A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.}}
{{Quote|{{Muslim|8|3311}}|A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.}}


===Committed by Muhammad's Companions===
===Committed by Muhammad's Companions===
{{main|Muhammad's Companions and Pedophilia}}
{{main|Child Marriage and Muhammad's Companions}}


Umar ibn al-Khattab, the 2<sup>rd</sup> [[Caliph]] of Islam, at the age of 55 married Umm Kulthum bint Ali when she was between 10 and 12 years old. Some sources even say that she was five years old when Umar married her.
Umar ibn al-Khattab, the 2<sup>rd</sup> [[Caliph]] of Islam, at the age of 55 married Umm Kulthum bint Ali when she was between 10 and 12 years old. Some sources even say that she was five years old when Umar married her.
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==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Pedophilia in the Qur'an]]
{{Hub4|Marriage|Marriage}}
{{Hub4|Marriage|Marriage}}


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{{Reflist|2|refs=}}
{{Reflist|2|refs=}}


[[Category:Islamic Law]]
[[Category:Shariah (Islamic Law)]]
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:Women]]
[[Category:Child Marriage]]
[[Category:Child Marriage]]
[[Category:Marriage]]
[[Category:Marriage]]
[[Category:Articles needing updating]]
[[Category:Sex]]
[[Category:Sex]]
<!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/306752/justice-systems-6-arrested-for-vani-marriage/|2=2011-12-17}} Justice systems: 6 arrested for vani marriage] -->
<!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/306752/justice-systems-6-arrested-for-vani-marriage/|2=2011-12-17}} Justice systems: 6 arrested for vani marriage] -->
<!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/348691/forced-marriage-step-father-elderly-husband-arrested/|2=2012-03-13}} Forced marriage: Step-father, elderly ‘husband’ arrested] --><!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/367555/underage-marriage-police-foil-party-for-5-year-old-brides-parents/|2=2012-04-24}} Underage marriage: Police foil party for 5-year-old bride’s parents] --><!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/433655/swara-case-police-directed-to-take-action-against-jirga-members/|2=2012-09-13}} Swara case: Police directed to take action against jirga members] --><!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200980/Imam-Mohamed-Kassamali-steps-caught-agreeing-marry-girl-12.html|2=2012-09-11}} Muslim mosque leader at centre of British child bride scandal steps down after 'being caught agreeing to marry girl of 12'] -->
<!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/348691/forced-marriage-step-father-elderly-husband-arrested/|2=2012-03-13}} Forced marriage: Step-father, elderly ‘husband’ arrested] --><!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/367555/underage-marriage-police-foil-party-for-5-year-old-brides-parents/|2=2012-04-24}} Underage marriage: Police foil party for 5-year-old bride’s parents] --><!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://tribune.com.pk/story/433655/swara-case-police-directed-to-take-action-against-jirga-members/|2=2012-09-13}} Swara case: Police directed to take action against jirga members] --><!-- [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2200980/Imam-Mohamed-Kassamali-steps-caught-agreeing-marry-girl-12.html|2=2012-09-11}} Muslim mosque leader at centre of British child bride scandal steps down after 'being caught agreeing to marry girl of 12'] -->[[Category:Criticism of Islam]]
[[Category:Health]]
[[Category:Human rights]]
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