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The Meaning of Consummate: Difference between revisions
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This article discusses the meaning of the word '''consummate''' as mentioned in [[sahih]] [[hadith]]. | This article discusses the meaning of the word '''consummate''' as mentioned in [[sahih]] [[hadith]]. | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
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Some [[apologists]] refuse to accept the existence of [[Qur'an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Aisha#Aisha.27s_Age_at_Consummation_and_Marriage|narrations given by Aisha]] in which she states that she was [[Marriage|married]] to Prophet [[Muhammad]] when she was six years old and that he consummated his marriage with her when she was nine [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar years]] of age, even though these are recorded in Bukhari's sahih ahadith collection. | Some [[apologists]] refuse to accept the existence of [[Qur'an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Aisha#Aisha.27s_Age_at_Consummation_and_Marriage|narrations given by Aisha]] in which she states that she was [[Marriage|married]] to Prophet [[Muhammad]] when she was six years old and that he consummated his marriage with her when she was nine [[Islamic Lunar Calendar|lunar years]] of age, even though these are recorded in Bukhari's sahih ahadith collection. | ||
These apologists will usually resort to questioning the English | These apologists will usually resort to questioning the mainstream English translations <ref>[{{Compendium-of-muslim-texts-base-url}}/hadith/muslim/ USC's Compendium of Muslim texts - translated by Dr. Mushin Khan]</ref> such as that of Dr. Mushin Khan, without addressing the hadith in their original [[Arabic]]. Examination of the Arabic language used in the narrations concerning [[Aisha|Aisha's]] marriage to Muhammad show that Muhammad did in fact have [[Sex|sexual intercourse]] with Aisha when she was nine years old. | ||
==Consummating the Marriage== | ==Consummating the Marriage== | ||
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===Interpretations of "Consummate"=== | ===Interpretations of "Consummate"=== | ||
An apologetic claim is that Muhammad ''"zawwaj' | An apologetic claim is that Muhammad engaged in ''"zawwaj'" with'' Aisha when she was six, and ''"nikah"'' with 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 | 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 hadith 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' in this context. | ||
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 in this context. | ||
Furthermore, a fluent English speaker will never take 'consummate the marriage' to mean 'complete the marriage' or 'enter the marriage', but will always understand it to mean 'sexual intercourse.' It is the only possible way to understand this euphemism. | Furthermore, a fluent English speaker will never take 'consummate the marriage' to mean 'complete the marriage' or 'enter the marriage', but will always understand it to mean 'sexual intercourse.' It is the only possible way to understand this euphemism. The meaning of the verb is dependent on the object in question. As the object in this case is marriage, the verb 'consummate' refers to sexual intercourse. This is because of the historical English (or more correctly Catholic) custom in which a marriage is considered to be consummated once the sexual act has taken place. | ||
It used to be that a marriage could be annulled if the sexual act was not performed; ie. if the marriage was not 'consummated.' This has been the definition for centuries. From ancient times until quite recently, the linen from the wedding bed was displayed to the relatives of the couple after the wedding night in order to prove consummation. A bride was expected to be a virgin, and a blood-stained sheet left no doubt as to both the bride's honor and the finality of the marriage contract (through consummation); and there was now no question as to the legality of the marriage. | It used to be that a Catholic marriage could be annulled if the sexual act was not performed; ie. if the marriage was not 'consummated.' This has been the definition for centuries. From ancient times until quite recently, in many cultures including western Christian cultures, the linen from the wedding bed was displayed to the relatives of the couple after the wedding night in order to prove consummation. A bride was expected to be a virgin, and a blood-stained sheet left no doubt as to both the bride's honor and the finality of the marriage contract (through consummation); and there was now no question as to the legality of the marriage. | ||
==Dakhala== | ==Dakhala== | ||
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The Arabic text shows that the claims of Muslims as to their interpretation of the words 'zawaj' and 'nikah' are incorrect. Bukhari uses 'zawaj' and 'nikah' interchangeably as synonyms to mean marriage (as does {{Quran|33|37}}, {{Quran|44|54}} and {{Quran|52|20}}). | The Arabic text shows that the claims of Muslims as to their interpretation of the words 'zawaj' and 'nikah' are incorrect. Bukhari uses 'zawaj' and 'nikah' interchangeably as synonyms to mean marriage (as does {{Quran|33|37}}, {{Quran|44|54}} and {{Quran|52|20}}). | ||
According to the narration in question, the relevant word used is not 'nikah', but 'udkhilat'. | |||
"udkhilat" is a form of "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 | Some apologists attempt to obfuscate the matter by invoking other figures of speech in Arabic (a tactic also used for [[The Meaning of Daraba|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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"Sleeping with a woman" does not merely mean that you share the same bed, but that you are engaging in a sexual relationship. | "Sleeping with a woman" does not merely mean that you share the same bed, but that you are engaging in a sexual relationship. | ||
Applying the meaning of dakhala to the original narration in question, it is clear that the object - "marriage" - is absent in relation to the verb 'dakhala.' The object of this hadith is Aisha herself. This means that Muhammad 'dakhala'ed her - grammatically, he ' | Applying the meaning of dakhala to the original narration in question, it is clear that the object - "marriage" - is absent in relation to the verb 'dakhala.' The object of this hadith is Aisha herself. This means that Muhammad 'dakhala'ed her - grammatically, he 'udkhilat 'alayha'. Therefore it is clear that the meaning is that he "entered" or "had sexual intercourse with" her. | ||
Here are a couple of other translations of the word "dakhala": | Here are a couple of other translations of the word "dakhala": | ||
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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> }} | ||
Eminent scholars of Islam translate the verb 'dakhaltum' (forms of the verb 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== | ||
The Bukhari hadiths use another phrase to convey the fact that Muhammad had sexual intercourse with Aisha: | |||
{{quote|{{Bukhari|||3896|darussalam}}| Narrated Hisham's father : | {{quote|{{Bukhari|||3896|darussalam}}| Narrated Hisham's father : | ||
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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' 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 | 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 her''" glossing the words literally. This is a phrase that is commonly used to denote intimate sexual relations. | ||
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. | |||
Other Bukhari ahadith that use the phrase ''"bana biha"'' to mean sexual intercourse (although not between Muhammad and Aisha) include: {{Bukhari|||3124|darussalam}} and {{Bukhari|||5157|darussalam}}. | Other Bukhari ahadith that use the phrase ''"bana biha"'' to mean sexual intercourse (although not between Muhammad and Aisha) include: {{Bukhari|||3124|darussalam}} and {{Bukhari|||5157|darussalam}}. | ||
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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.' "}} | ||
== | ==The meaning of the Texts== | ||
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 | 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 hadiths. | ||
The | The lack of clarity from the Muslim apologists regarding this does not represent an honest interpretation of the text or use of language, and ultimately originates in their unwillingness enage with the fact 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}} | ||