How sound is what was reported in Sahih al-Bukhari regarding the age of Aisha when she married the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and what is the strength of the criticism directed at the chain of transmission of these narrations?
Determining the age of Lady Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, contracted their marriage at six years old and consummated it when she was nine, is a historical transmission confirmed by several aspects, the most important of which are:
1. It was reported by Aisha herself in Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
2. The narration came through multiple chains of transmission, not just one, as some claim.
3. The story of the Prophet's marriage to Aisha was narrated by others besides Aisha herself.
4. Historical sources unanimously agree on this, and that Aisha was born in Islam and died at the age of 18.
5. It is consistent with the age difference between her and her sister Asma bint Abi Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them both.
As for the argument that the difference between Asma's and Aisha's age was only ten years, this has not been proven with an authentic chain of narration. Even if it were proven, it could be interpreted to conform with the definitive evidence.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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