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Child Marriage in the Muslim World: Difference between revisions
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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]]. | 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]]. | ||
[[Islamic Law|Islamic law | [[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> Muslims today are commonly unaware of these facts. | ||
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 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, | 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 [[Child_Marriage_in_the_Muslim_World#Conclusion|in the face of opposition]] (though also support) from traditional Islamic scholars. Many Muslim campaign groups and charities have been involved in this reform 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== | ||
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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. | 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| | {{Quote|{{Muslim||1422c|reference}}|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=== | ||