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The Meaning of Consummate: Difference between revisions
→Consummating the Marriage
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Although there are numerous narrations regarding the age of Aisha when she was married, the one that is most often a point of contention is the following: | Although there are numerous narrations regarding the age of Aisha when she was married, the one that is most often a point of contention is the following: | ||
{{quote |{{Bukhari|||5133|darussalam}} | Narrated 'Aisha : | {{quote |{{Bukhari|||5133|darussalam}} |حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم تَزَوَّجَهَا وَهْىَ بِنْتُ سِتِّ سِنِينَ، وَأُدْخِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَهْىَ بِنْتُ تِسْعٍ، وَمَكَثَتْ عِنْدَهُ تِسْعًا. | ||
Narrated 'Aisha : | |||
that the Prophet '''married''' her when she was six years old and he '''consummated his marriage''' when she was nine years old. | that the Prophet '''married''' her when she was six years old and he '''consummated his marriage''' when she was nine years old. | ||
'' | ''Ḥaddathanā Muḥammad ibn Yūsuf, ḥaddathanā Sufyān, ʿan Hishām, ʿan abīhi, ʿan ʿĀʾishata — raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhā — anna al-nabiyya ﷺ tazawwajahā wa-hiya bintu sitt(i) sinīn, wa-udkhilat ʿalayhi wa-hiya bintu tisʿin, wa-makathat ʿindahu tisʿan.'' }} | ||
In this narration, the word ''" | In this narration, the word ''"udkhilat"'' was translated by Dr. Mushin Khan to mean ''"consummated his marriage."'' | ||
===Interpretations of "Consummate"=== | ===Interpretations of "Consummate"=== | ||
An apologetic claim is that Muhammad ''"zawwaj'ed"'' Aisha when she was six, and ''"nikah'ed"'' her when she was 9 years old. <ref>[http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Polemics/aishah.html Muslim Answers - 'The young age of Aishah' by Abd ar-Rahmân Robert Squires]</ref> They claim that ''"zawaj"'' means ''"betrothal"'' and ''"[[nikah]]"'' means ''"marriage."'' After stating this, they claim that Dr. Mushin Khan's translation is "poor" because he has (allegedly) added "consummation of" to the meaning of 'nikah', instead of simply rendering it as "marriage". Thereby, they claim that Dr. Khan has added a sexual connotation to the narration in question which was not intended. | |||
Others accept Dr. Khan's translation, but argue as to the meaning of "consummate" as they too, disagree with the implied sexual connotation. The usual reasoning given for this interpretation of the ahadith in question, is that 'consummation' could be interpreted as 'completion' of the marriage or wedding ceremony - as in completion of a business transaction. However this is not correct, as the word | Others accept Dr. Khan's translation, but argue as to the meaning of "consummate" as they too, disagree with the implied sexual connotation. The usual reasoning given for this interpretation of the ahadith in question, is that 'consummation' could be interpreted as 'completion' of the marriage or wedding ceremony - as in completion of a business transaction. However this is not correct, as the word adkhala' does not simply mean 'consummate' in English, but it actually translates as the English phrase 'consummate the marriage.' | ||
Essentially what they are doing when they attack the meaning of 'consummate' is that they are addressing the English word but not the Arabic (dakhala). While 'consummate' can sometimes mean 'completion' (as in a business transaction), the Arabic word 'dakhala' carries no such meaning or connotation. | Essentially what they are doing when they attack the meaning of 'consummate' is that they are addressing the English word but not the Arabic (dakhala). While 'consummate' can sometimes mean 'completion' (as in a business transaction), the Arabic word 'dakhala' carries no such meaning or connotation. | ||
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The root of the verb "udkhilath" is "dakhala" - which means to "enter". This is the most common Arabic meaning, although there are other definitions - none of which can be used in this case, given the context of this hadith. | The root of the verb "udkhilath" is "dakhala" - which means to "enter". This is the most common Arabic meaning, although there are other definitions - none of which can be used in this case, given the context of this hadith. | ||
Some apologists attempt to over-complicate the matter by invoking other figures of speech in Arabic (a tactic also used for daraba) but these other figures of speech do not in any way change the main meaning of the verb: | |||
{{quote||The full definition of دخل (dakhala) : | {{quote||The full definition of دخل (dakhala) : | ||
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{{quote |Hans-Wehr Arabic-English Dictionary p273| to enter, to pierce, to penetrate, to consummate the marriage, cohabit, sleep with a woman.}} | {{quote |Hans-Wehr Arabic-English Dictionary p273| to enter, to pierce, to penetrate, to consummate the marriage, cohabit, sleep with a woman.}} | ||
Similar definitions are found in other dictionaries including those of classical Arabic. | |||
Just as in the English language, "consummate the marriage" is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. | Just as in the English language, "consummate the marriage" is a euphemism for sexual intercourse. | ||
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===Qur'an 4:23=== | ===Qur'an 4:23=== | ||
There is only ''one'' instance (and that is twice in {{Quran|4|23}} | There is only ''one'' instance (and that is twice in {{Quran|4|23}}) where the verb 'dakhala' is used in relation to marriage or women - and it is clear that the meaning is sexual intercourse. Here is a selection of translations that translate 'dakhaltum' to mean 'sexual intercourse': | ||
{{quote |[http://www.quran4theworld.com/translations/Majid/4.htm Quran 4:23 - Daryabadi]| | {{quote |[http://www.quran4theworld.com/translations/Majid/4.htm Quran 4:23 - Daryabadi]| | ||
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(Your wives' mothers, your stepdaughters under your guardianship, born of your wives unto whom you have gone in - but there is no sin on you if you have not gone in unto them,) As for the mother of the wife, she becomes prohibited for marriage for her son-in-law when the marriage is conducted, whether the son-in-law '''has sexual relations''' with her daughter or not. As for the wife's daughter, she becomes prohibited for her stepfather when he '''has sexual relations''' with her mother, after the marriage contract is ratified. If the man divorces the mother before '''having sexual relations''' with her, he is allowed to marry her daughter. <ref>[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=4&tid=10749 Tafsir 'Ibn Kathir - Quran 4:23 (excerpt)]</ref> }} | (Your wives' mothers, your stepdaughters under your guardianship, born of your wives unto whom you have gone in - but there is no sin on you if you have not gone in unto them,) As for the mother of the wife, she becomes prohibited for marriage for her son-in-law when the marriage is conducted, whether the son-in-law '''has sexual relations''' with her daughter or not. As for the wife's daughter, she becomes prohibited for her stepfather when he '''has sexual relations''' with her mother, after the marriage contract is ratified. If the man divorces the mother before '''having sexual relations''' with her, he is allowed to marry her daughter. <ref>[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=4&tid=10749 Tafsir 'Ibn Kathir - Quran 4:23 (excerpt)]</ref> }} | ||
Therefore we see that the eminent scholars of Islam translate the verb 'dakhaltum' (the root word is dakhala) to mean 'sexual intercourse', because the literal meaning is to "enter", "insert into", "penetrate", or "pierce" a woman. It does not mean "enter a marriage" - it means "enter" the woman. | Therefore we see that the eminent scholars of Islam translate the verb 'dakhaltum' (the root word is dakhala) to mean 'sexual intercourse', because the literal meaning is to "enter", "insert into", "penetrate", or "pierce" a woman. It does not mean "enter a marriage" - it means to "enter" the woman. | ||
==Bana Biha== | ==Bana Biha== | ||
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''An Ayesha th AnnaNabiyya Sallallahu alaihi vasallama thazawwajaha vahiya binthu Sitha sineena, va '''bana biha''' vahiya binthu This”I sineen. Qala Hisham : Va unbiethu Annaha kanath Indahu This”I Sineen.''}} | ''An Ayesha th AnnaNabiyya Sallallahu alaihi vasallama thazawwajaha vahiya binthu Sitha sineena, va '''bana biha''' vahiya binthu This”I sineen. Qala Hisham : Va unbiethu Annaha kanath Indahu This”I Sineen.''}} | ||
The Arabic word ''"bana"'' means to ''"build"'' or ''"construct."'' However, if we add ''"biha"'' which means 'with her' (biha being a feminine verb in Arabic), then the meaning is entirely different. Literally, ''"bana biha"'' means ''"build with her | The Arabic word ''"bana"'' means to ''"build"'' or ''"construct."'' However, if we add ''"biha"'' which means 'with her' or 'in her' (biha being a feminine verb in Arabic), then the meaning is entirely different. Literally, ''"bana biha"'' means ''"build with her"'' or "''build in here''" glossing the words literally. This is a phrase that is commonly used to denote intimate sexual relations. | ||
If we say in Arabic: 'Muhammad bana bi Aisha', the meaning is: 'Muhammad had intercourse with Aisha.' This is the only possibly Arabic understanding of the phrase. Therefore, again, it is apparent that Dr. Mushin Khan has used the euphemism "consummated the marriage" to denote the sexual act. | If we say in Arabic: 'Muhammad bana bi Aisha', the meaning is: 'Muhammad had intercourse with Aisha.' This is the only possibly Arabic understanding of the phrase. Therefore, again, it is apparent that Dr. Mushin Khan has used the euphemism "consummated the marriage" to denote the sexual act. | ||
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{{Quote|{{Bukhari|||5157|darussalam}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "A prophet among the prophets went for a military expedition and said to his people: "A man who has married a lady and wants to '''consummate his marriage''' with her and he has not done so yet, should not accompany me.' "}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|||5157|darussalam}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "A prophet among the prophets went for a military expedition and said to his people: "A man who has married a lady and wants to '''consummate his marriage''' with her and he has not done so yet, should not accompany me.' "}} | ||
== | ==Summary== | ||
A reading of the relevant Bukhari ahadith make it clear that Muhammad had sexual intercourse with Aisha when she was nine years of age. The terms used are: ''"udkhilat"'' and ''"bana biha"'', which can only mean ''"sexual intercourse"'' in the context of the ahadith. | |||
The confusion from the Muslim apologists regarding this comes from their lack of understanding regarding the English phrase "consummation of marriage", their misinterpretation of the Arabic and ultimately their unwillingness to admit that the sources say that their prophet had sexual intercourse with a nine year old child. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
{{Hub4|Glossary of Islamic Terms|Islamic Terms}} | {{Hub4|Glossary of Islamic Terms|Islamic Terms}} | ||