Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage - Revision history

Lightyears at 21:26, 11 November 2025

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	====Sawdah had Not Reached Menopause====		====Sawdah had Not Reached Menopause====

	{{Quote\|{{~~Bukhari~~\|1\|8\|~~3451~~}}.\|As ~~[Sawdah] '''~~became old~~'''~~, she had made over her day with ~~Allah’s~~ Messenger to ~~Aisha~~. She said: “I have made over my day with you to ~~Aisha~~.” So ~~Allah’s~~ Messenger allotted two days to ~~Aisha~~, her own day and that of ~~Sawdah~~.}}		{{Quote\|{{Muslim\|\|1463a\|reference}}.\|Never did I find any woman more loving to me than Sauda bint Zam'a. I wished I could be exactly like her who was passionate. As she became old, she had made over her day (which she had to spend) with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to 'A'isha. She said: I have made over my day with you to 'A'isha. So Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) allotted two days to 'A'isha, her own day (when it was her turn) and that of Sauda.}}

	{{Quote\|Bewley/Saad 8:40.\|Sawdah bint Zamaa '''became old''' and the Messenger of Allah did not have much to do with her. … She became afraid that he would divorce her and she would lose her place with him. So she said, “Messenger of Allah, my day which falls for me is for Aisha and you are in the lawful in it.”}}		{{Quote\|Bewley/Saad 8:40.\|Sawdah bint Zamaa '''became old''' and the Messenger of Allah did not have much to do with her. … She became afraid that he would divorce her and she would lose her place with him. So she said, “Messenger of Allah, my day which falls for me is for Aisha and you are in the lawful in it.”}}

Lightyears: Automated script replacing USC-MSA hadith numbering system for Bukhari, Muslim, and Abu Dawud

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Lightyears at 22:56, 21 May 2025

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	The widows whom Prophet Muhammad married after Khadijah’s death do indeed fall into two distinct age-groups. But to label these two groups as “the middle-aged” and “the elderly” gives atypical definitions to these terms. The “elderly” group would refer to those brides between 28 and 40 while the “middle-aged” group would mean the teenagers.		The widows whom Prophet Muhammad married after Khadijah’s death do indeed fall into two distinct age-groups. But to label these two groups as “the middle-aged” and “the elderly” gives atypical definitions to these terms. The “elderly” group would refer to those brides between 28 and 40 while the “middle-aged” group would mean the teenagers.

	Muhammad did indeed marry his first wife Khadijah, ~~who~~ was the ~~same age as himself, when they were both young~~. He rejected Sawdah, who was a little younger than himself, when they were both middle-aged. All his other wives were young enough to be his daughters and several were young enough to be his granddaughters. According to the traditional Islamic sources, he divorced one woman before consummating the marriage<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:111</ref> and broke off another courtship<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:113</ref> solely because he decided that these women were “too old” for him, and he continued to pursue teenagers until the day he died.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:105</ref> Nor does he seem to have been embarrassed by his own preference.<ref>"''Nothing was dearer to the Prophet of Allah than a horse. Then he said: “O Allah! Excuse me, no! The women!” (i.e., not dearer than women).''" - [http://www.soebratie.nl/religie/hadith/IbnSad.html#Book 90.6/ Ibn Saad, ''Tabaqat'' Vol. 1 Chapter 90:6].</ref> The Islamic tradition bears witness against the idea that Muhammad was in the habit of marrying older women who were destitute and in need of his aide, and indeed shows that he rather preferred to marry women much, much younger than he.		Muhammad did indeed marry his first wife Khadijah when he was 25 and she was 15 years older (i.e. 40, though a more plausible tradition states that she was 28 years old at the time). He rejected Sawdah, who was a little younger than himself, when they were both middle-aged. All his other wives were young enough to be his daughters and several were young enough to be his granddaughters. According to the traditional Islamic sources, he divorced one woman before consummating the marriage<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:111</ref> and broke off another courtship<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:113</ref> solely because he decided that these women were “too old” for him, and he continued to pursue teenagers until the day he died.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:105</ref> Nor does he seem to have been embarrassed by his own preference.<ref>"''Nothing was dearer to the Prophet of Allah than a horse. Then he said: “O Allah! Excuse me, no! The women!” (i.e., not dearer than women).''" - [http://www.soebratie.nl/religie/hadith/IbnSad.html#Book 90.6/ Ibn Saad, ''Tabaqat'' Vol. 1 Chapter 90:6].</ref> The Islamic tradition bears witness against the idea that Muhammad was in the habit of marrying older women who were destitute and in need of his aide, and indeed shows that he rather preferred to marry women much, much younger than he.

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

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Fixed some typos.

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	===Aisha's Age===		===Aisha's Age===
			{{Main\|Aisha's Age\|Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Aisha}}

	~~This question has already been adequately answered [[Refutation of Modern Muslim Apologetics Against Aishas Age\|here]] and [[Responses to Apologetics: Muhammad and Aisha\|here]]. In sum, if~~ the Islamic tradition is to be trusted at all, ~~she~~ was six years old when Muhammad married her and nine years old when Muhammad consummated the marriage.		If the Islamic tradition is to be trusted at all, Aisha was six years old when Muhammad married her and nine years old when Muhammad consummated the marriage.

	{{Quote\|Bewley/Saad 8:44.\|The Messenger of Allah married me when I was six and consummated the marriage when '''I was nine'''. I was playing on a see-saw … I used to play dolls.}}		{{Quote\|Bewley/Saad 8:44.\|The Messenger of Allah married me when I was six and consummated the marriage when '''I was nine'''. I was playing on a see-saw … I used to play dolls.}}

Asmith at 01:51, 6 February 2022

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	{{QualityScore\|Lead=1\|Structure=3\|Content=4\|Language=3\|References=4}}		{{QualityScore\|Lead=3\|Structure=3\|Content=4\|Language=4\|References=3}}

	The prophet Muhammad had 19 or more [[Muhammad's Marriages\|wives or concubines]] according to the traditional Islamic sources.[[Dawah\|Islamic apologists and du'aah]] often make the claim that he married many of these women because they were widows, elderly, or otherwise destitute and in need of his aide.		The prophet Muhammad had 19 or more [[Muhammad's Marriages\|wives or concubines]] according to the traditional Islamic sources.[[Dawah\|Islamic apologists and du'aah]] often make the claim that he married many of these women because they were widows, elderly, or otherwise destitute and in need of his aide.

Asmith: /* Muhammad as Bridegroom */

2022-02-06T01:43:38Z

Muhammad as Bridegroom

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	===Muhammad as Bridegroom===		===Muhammad as Bridegroom===

	~~We can~~ also calculate ~~Muhammad’s mean~~ age as a ~~bridegroom~~. Here is his age when he consummated each of these marriages.		Based on the above data, it is also possible to calculate Muhammad's age as a bridgegroom in each other cases mentioned above. Here is his age when he consummated each of these marriages.

	#Khadijah = 24 years and 3 months.		#Khadijah = 24 years and 3 months.
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	===Skewed Statistics===		===Skewed Statistics===

	Muhammad’s first marriage to Khadijah skews the ~~statistics~~. ~~She~~ was the ''only'' wife whom Muhammad married as a young man. She was the ''only'' wife who was close to his own age, as opposed to being significantly younger. Some statisticians would exclude her as an outlier before they began the calculation.		Muhammad’s first marriage to Khadijah skews the the mean. According to the traditional sources, she was the ''only'' wife whom Muhammad married as a young man. She was the ''only'' wife who was close to his own age, as opposed to being significantly younger. Some statisticians would exclude her as an outlier before they began the calculation.

	A more serious skew of the statistics is caused by the fact that these 14 wives were not the only women whom Muhammad married. He also had four known concubines and at least one other full wife. While we do not know the ages of any of these women, we can infer a definite trend. They all seem to have been teenagers – significantly younger than the mean. If their ages could be added to the calculation, the mean age of Muhammad’s brides would be even lower, perhaps around 22 years.		A more serious skew of the statistics is caused by the fact that these 14 wives were not the only women whom Muhammad married. He also had four known concubines and at least one other full wife. While we do not know the ages of any of these women, we can infer a definite trend. They all seem to have been teenagers – significantly younger than the mean. If their ages could be added to the calculation, the mean age of Muhammad’s brides would be even lower, perhaps around 22 years.

	Muhammad acquired these five women in the last five years of his life, so his mean age as bridegroom has to be raised. While we don’t know all of his wedding dates, the new figure would probably come to about 55 years – making the age difference between Muhammad and his “average wife” a grand mean of 33 years.		Muhammad acquired these five women in the last five years of his life, so his mean age as bridegroom has to be raised. While we don’t know all of his wedding dates or the dates where he first sexually assaulted his slaves, the new figure would probably come to about 55 years – making the age difference between Muhammad and his “average wife” a grand mean of 33 years.

	~~Therefore our~~ calculation that Muhammad’s average wife was 29 years younger than himself and that she became his bride when she was 24½ ~~has to~~ be ~~taken~~ as conservative.		It should thus be kept in mind that the calculation that Muhammad’s average wife was 29 years younger than himself and that she became his bride when she was 24½ should be seen as conservative, and under representing both the age gap and the youth of Muhammad's female lover in each case.

	==See Also==		==See Also==

Asmith: /* Ages Unknown */

2022-02-06T01:36:10Z

Ages Unknown

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	==Ages Unknown==		==Ages Unknown==

	Muhammad had ~~some kind of~~ marriage ~~contract~~ with several other women, but most of these unions were dissolved before consummation. The other women with whom he is known to have had a sexual relationship are the five listed below, four of whom were technically concubines (sex [[Slavery\|slaves]]) rather than legal wives. The ages of these five women are unknown.		Muhammad had other marriage contracts with several other women, but most of these unions were dissolved before consummation and thus were not true marriages according to Islamic law. The other women with whom he is known to have had a sexual relationship are the five listed below, four of whom were technically concubines (sex [[Slavery\|slaves]]) rather than legal wives. The ages of these five women are unknown.

	===Rayhanah bint Zayd ibn Amr===		===Rayhanah bint Zayd ibn Amr===
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	===Mariyah bint Shamoon===		===Mariyah bint Shamoon===

	Mariyah’s age is not stated anywhere. The only certain fact is that, since she bore Muhammad a son in 630, she must have been of childbearing age.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|pp. 39, 137}}.</ref> Various guesses that she was 20<ref>[http://www.a2youth.com/ebooks/the_wives_of_the_prophet/Maymunah_bint_al-harith/ Thomson, H. A. (1993). “Maymunah bint Al-Harith”] in ''The Wives of the Prophet Muhammad''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd.</ref> or 17<ref>[http://www.themodernreligion.com/prophet/prophet_aisha.htm/ Ahmed, S. “Prophet Muhammad and Aisha Siddiqa.”]</ref> betray the assumptions of the secondary historians that if she attracted Muhammad, she must have been young. ~~The truth~~ is, ~~they are probably right. But because we don’t ''know'' Mariyah’s age, we have omitted her from the calculation~~.		Mariyah’s age is not stated anywhere. The only certain fact is that, since she bore Muhammad a son in 630, she must have been of childbearing age.<ref>{{Tabari\|9\|pp. 39, 137}}.</ref> Various guesses that she was 20<ref>[http://www.a2youth.com/ebooks/the_wives_of_the_prophet/Maymunah_bint_al-harith/ Thomson, H. A. (1993). “Maymunah bint Al-Harith”] in ''The Wives of the Prophet Muhammad''. London: Ta-Ha Publishers Ltd.</ref> or 17<ref>[http://www.themodernreligion.com/prophet/prophet_aisha.htm/ Ahmed, S. “Prophet Muhammad and Aisha Siddiqa.”]</ref> betray the assumptions of the secondary historians that if she attracted Muhammad, she must have been young. Given the other evidence this is likely correct, but there is no data to support this conclusion.

	===Fatima ("Al-Aliya") bint Al-Dahhak===		===Fatima ("Al-Aliya") bint Al-Dahhak===

	The only objective clue to Fatima’s age is that she lived another 50 years after Muhammad divorced her.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:100</ref> Subjectively, her behaviour seems immature and suited to a child aged 15 or 16.<ref>{{Tabari\|39\|pp. 187-188}}; Bewley/Saad 8:101.</ref> ~~But because we do~~ not ~~know Fatima’s~~ age~~, we have omitted her from the calculation~~.		The only objective clue to Fatima’s age is that she lived another 50 years after Muhammad divorced her.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:100</ref> Subjectively, her behaviour seems immature and suited to a child aged 15 or 16.<ref>{{Tabari\|39\|pp. 187-188}}; Bewley/Saad 8:101.</ref> There is not any concrete data for calculation of her age though.

	==="Al-Jariya" and Tukanah===		==="Al-Jariya" and Tukanah===

	These two concubines were presumably selected for their looks and were presumably young. But presumption is not fact. ~~We do not know their~~ ages and ~~so we have omitted them from the~~ calculation.		These two concubines were presumably selected for their looks and were presumably young. But presumption is not fact. There ages are unknown and there is not available data for calculation.

	==Mean Ages==		==Mean Ages==
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	===Muhammad’s Wives===		===Muhammad’s Wives===

	~~We can now calculate~~ the ~~mean age~~ of 14 of ~~Muhammad’s~~ wives at the ~~time he married them.~~		Based on the above sources the calculations of the ages of Muhammad's wives at marriage (including the various estimations above) are as follows:

	#Khadijah’s Median Age = 26 years and 10 months.		#Khadijah’s Median Age = 26 years and 10 months.
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	*Mean Age of Muhammad’s Brides = ''24.56 years''		*Mean Age of Muhammad’s Brides = ''24.56 years''

	The mean age of Muhammad’s brides was about ''24½ years''. ~~Even by~~ the ~~historical Arabian standards~~, ~~a woman~~ of ~~24 was not quite “middle-aged”~~.		The mean age of Muhammad’s brides was about ''24½ years''. To call such a woman middle-aged, even in Arabia at the time, seems uncalled for. Rather it appears that (like most rules of his stature) Muhammad preferred younger women.

	===Muhammad as Bridegroom===		===Muhammad as Bridegroom===

Asmith: /* Amrah's Age */

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Amrah's Age

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	===Amrah's Age===		===Amrah's Age===

	Amrah’s age is not ~~stated anywhere~~. However, ~~we do know~~ the age of her first husband. He was Muhammad’s cousin, Al-Fadl ibn Abbas.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, cited in Guillaume, A. (1960). ''New Light on the Life of Muhammad'', p. 55. Manchester: Manchester University Press.</ref> Al-Fadl’s brother Abdullah recalled: “We reached Allah’s Apostle five years after he had made ''Hijra'' and were with the Quraysh when they marched during the year in which the Battle of ''Ahzab'' [Trench] was fought [627]. I was with my brother Fadl … I was then eight years old while my brother was 13.”<ref>Tabrani/Haythami vol. 6 p. 64 reported on the chain of narrators for this hadith. Cited in Khandhlawi, M. M. Y. (1959). ''Hayatus Sahaba''. Translated by Elias, A. H. (2008). ''The Lives of the Sahabah'', vol. 1, p. 373. Farid Book Depot (Pvt.) Ltd.</ref>		Amrah’s age is not extant in any sources surveyed for this study. However, the age of her first husband is, however, recorded. He was Muhammad’s cousin, Al-Fadl ibn Abbas.<ref>Ibn Ishaq, cited in Guillaume, A. (1960). ''New Light on the Life of Muhammad'', p. 55. Manchester: Manchester University Press.</ref> Al-Fadl’s brother Abdullah recalled: “We reached Allah’s Apostle five years after he had made ''Hijra'' and were with the Quraysh when they marched during the year in which the Battle of ''Ahzab'' [Trench] was fought [627]. I was with my brother Fadl … I was then eight years old while my brother was 13.”<ref>Tabrani/Haythami vol. 6 p. 64 reported on the chain of narrators for this hadith. Cited in Khandhlawi, M. M. Y. (1959). ''Hayatus Sahaba''. Translated by Elias, A. H. (2008). ''The Lives of the Sahabah'', vol. 1, p. 373. Farid Book Depot (Pvt.) Ltd.</ref>

	If Al-Fadl was 13 in 627, he was born in late 613 or 614 – that is, he was exactly the same age as Aisha. His family emigrated to Medina three years later,<ref>{{Tabari\|39\|p. 202}}.</ref> and soon afterwards, Al-Fadl petitioned Muhammad to arrange a marriage for him. Muhammad found him a wife on the same day, but it was not Amrah bint Yazid. The girl whom Al-Fadl married in 630 was his cousin, Safiya bint Mahmiyah.<ref>{{Muslim\|5\|2347}}.</ref>		If Al-Fadl was 13 in 627, he was born in late 613 or 614 – that is, he was exactly the same age as Aisha. His family emigrated to Medina three years later,<ref>{{Tabari\|39\|p. 202}}.</ref> and soon afterwards, Al-Fadl petitioned Muhammad to arrange a marriage for him. Muhammad found him a wife on the same day, but it was not Amrah bint Yazid. The girl whom Al-Fadl married in 630 was his cousin, Safiya bint Mahmiyah.<ref>{{Muslim\|5\|2347}}.</ref>

	It is a little strange that such a young man would so soon afterwards take on a second wife, but it is ~~safe to say~~ that he did so willingly, for Amrah was of no political importance. There is no obvious reason for this marriage beyond the documented fact that Al-Fadl was susceptible to pretty girls.<ref>See {{Bukhari\|74\|247}}.</ref> He was also the eldest son of a very wealthy man,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 113, 114, 309-310.</ref> so if he wanted a second wife, there was nothing to stop him taking one. It is therefore highly unlikely that Amrah was plain or that she was older than Al-Fadl. She would have been the same age as her bridegroom or a little younger.		It is a little strange that such a young man would so soon afterwards take on a second wife, but it is seems that he did so willingly, for Amrah was of no political importance. There is no obvious reason for this marriage beyond the documented fact that Al-Fadl was susceptible to pretty girls.<ref>See {{Bukhari\|74\|247}}.</ref> He was also said to be the eldest son of a very wealthy man,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 113, 114, 309-310.</ref> so if he wanted a second wife, there was nothing to stop him taking one. It is therefore highly unlikely that Amrah was plain or that she was older than Al-Fadl. She would have been the same age as her bridegroom or a little younger.

	However, Al-Fadl divorced Amrah within a matter of months, and she was afterwards married to Muhammad. While the date of this marriage is unknown, there would scarcely have been time for all these events to have occurred before January 631. Since Muhammad fell ill and then died in early June 632,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 689</ref> the latest possible date for his marriage to Amrah would be May 632. So the median wedding date is September 631. We do not know how old Amrah was in 631, but Al-Fadl was 17, so it is reasonable to suggest that Amrah was about 15 – a couple of years younger than Aisha.		However, Al-Fadl divorced Amrah within a matter of months, and she was afterwards married to Muhammad. While the date of this marriage is unknown, there would scarcely have been time for all these events to have occurred before January 631. Since Muhammad fell ill and then died in early June 632,<ref>Guillaume/Ishaq 689</ref> the latest possible date for his marriage to Amrah would be May 632. So the median wedding date is September 631. We do not know how old Amrah was in 631, but Al-Fadl was 17, so it is reasonable to suggest that Amrah was about 15 – a couple of years younger than Aisha.

	*Amrah’s Probable Age = about 15 years.		*Amrah’s Probable Age = about 15 years, give or take 5 years.
	*Muhammad’s Age at Marriage = 60 years and 5 months.		*Muhammad’s Age at Marriage = 60 years and 5 months.
	*Age Difference = 45 years and 5 months.		*Age Difference = around 45 years and 5 months.

	~~Again,~~ this ~~is a guess~~, but it is an estimate based on real data about Amrah’s life. ~~We can make no such guesses about~~ the ~~remaining women in Muhammad’s life~~.		There is alot of guesswork that went into this estimation, but it is an estimate based on real data about Amrah’s life. No data remains extant for the remainder of Muhammad's wives.

	==Ages Unknown==		==Ages Unknown==

Asmith: /* Asma's Age */

2022-02-04T15:25:40Z

Asma's Age

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	===Asma's Age===		===Asma's Age===

	Asma’s age is unknown but her age-range is clearly implied.		Asma’s age is unknown but her age-range is clearly implied in the sources.

	{{Quote\|{{Tabari\|39\|pp. 188-189}}.\|“O Messenger of Allah, shall I give you in marriage the most beautiful among the Arab widows? She had been married to a relative of hers, but he died, and she lost her way…”}}		{{Quote\|{{Tabari\|39\|pp. 188-189}}.\|“O Messenger of Allah, shall I give you in marriage the most beautiful among the Arab widows? She had been married to a relative of hers, but he died, and she lost her way…”}}