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Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage: Difference between revisions
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Ages of Muhammads Wives at Marriage (view source)
Revision as of 01:45, 16 April 2013
, 16 April 2013→How Old was Mulaykah?
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This makes sense in the light of the fact that Mulaykah found a new fiancé within days of her divorce from Muhammad, before she had completed her three-month waiting-period.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:106; {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}.</ref> It looks suspiciously as if this man had already been a suitor before it became politically necessary for Mulaykah to marry Muhammad. If she had been courted but not married, this also suggests that she was very young. | This makes sense in the light of the fact that Mulaykah found a new fiancé within days of her divorce from Muhammad, before she had completed her three-month waiting-period.<ref>Bewley/Saad 8:106; {{Tabari|39|p. 165}}.</ref> It looks suspiciously as if this man had already been a suitor before it became politically necessary for Mulaykah to marry Muhammad. If she had been courted but not married, this also suggests that she was very young. | ||
Since the mean age of menarche was 12½ years,<ref>[http://www.mum.org/menarage.htm/ Finley, H. (2003). “Average age at menarche in various cultures.”]</ref> this indicates that Mulaykah was about 13, plus or minus a couple of years. | Since the mean age of menarche was 12½ years,<ref>[http://www.mum.org/menarage.htm/ Finley, H. (2003). “Average age at menarche in various cultures.”]</ref> this indicates that Mulaykah was about 13, plus or minus a couple of years. As for the date of the wedding: | ||
[[File:Bedouin1904.jpg|right|thumb|A Bedouin bride and groom, c. 1904. The bride must be much younger than the groom as she has very obviously not yet reached her full height.|200px]] | [[File:Bedouin1904.jpg|right|thumb|A Bedouin bride and groom, c. 1904. The bride must be much younger than the groom as she has very obviously not yet reached her full height.|200px]] | ||
{{Quote|Tabari|8|p. 187.|In this year [8 AH] the Messenger of God married Mulaykah ... He had killed her father the day of the conquest of Mecca [14 January 630].}} | |||
The year 8 AH did not end until 22 April 630. But in fact Muhammad must have married Mulaykah earlier than this. Her tribe lived near Mecca; they had resisted him at Mecca on 14 January; and Muhammad left Mecca on 28 January to fight the Hawazinites and Thaqifites.<ref>{{Tabari|9|pp. 2-3}}.</ref> It is practically certain that he married Mulaykah during his fortnight of residence in the city, i.e. in the second half of January 630. | |||
:::'''Mulaykah’s Probable Age = about 13 years.''' | :::'''Mulaykah’s Probable Age = about 13 years.''' | ||