The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 243
VI - Rukhsatānah of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra and an Exposition of Her Age at the Time, the Issue of Polygamy and Two Fabricated Incidents 243 already been mentioned that in various narrations, the age at the time of marriage has been recorded as being six years, whereas in other narrations an estimate of seven years has been reported. Both these types of narrations are found in books of Aḥādīth as well as in books of history. The narration of seven years has been related particularly in Sahih Muslim and Nasa’i, 1 Ibni Hishām, 2 Ibni Sa‘d 3 and Tabari. 4 In contrast, the narration of six years has been related in all these books, with the exception of Sīrat Ibni Hishām, and in addition to this, the narration of six years has been related in Bukhārī as well. Now we must look to see which narrations are worthy of preference from the two types mentioned above. Any individual who possesses even the slightest knowledge of the Science of Narration would concur that as far as the mere authenticity of a narration is concerned, both types of narrations are absolutely authentic and reliable, and we cannot reject either of them, deeming one to be false. As such, it must be accepted that it was Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra herself who mentioned these two varying estimates at different occasions. In other words, at times she has related her age as being six years and at times, seven years; sometimes she has mixed both estimates to state that on the occasion of her marriage, she was six or seven years of age. Hence, in terms of Riwāyat , 5 there is no difference whatsoever, but in terms of Dirāyat , 6 if one contemplates the estimate of seven years must be given preference. For it is a general practice that until the year of a person’s age has fully elapsed, the year below is always mentioned, and the time remaining for the completion of the following year is ignored. The next year is only mentioned when it has fully elapsed, or is so close to completion that practically it can be considered as having fully elapsed. Hence, with respect to the age of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah, the mention of six years in certain narrations and seven years in others, categorically demonstrates that on the occasion of her Nikāḥ , the age of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra had passed the six year mark 1 Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qasṭalānī, Volume 4, p. 383, ‘Ā’ishah Ummul-Mu’minīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 2 As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abū Muḥammad ‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 891, Dhikru Azwājihī sa Ummahātil-Mu’minīn, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2001) 3 Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 8, p. 272, Dhikru Azwāji Rasūlillāhi sa / ‘Ā’ishata bintu Abī Bakriṣ-Ṣiddīq, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996) 4 Tārīkhur-Rusuli Wal-Mulūk (Tārīkhuṭ-Ṭabarī), By Abū Ja‘far Muḥammad bin Jarīr Aṭ-Ṭabarī, Volume 3, p. 9, Dhikru Mā Kāna Minal-Umūril-Madhkūrati Fī Awwali Sanatin Minal-Hijrah / Khuṭbatu Rasūlillahi sa Fī Awwali Jumu‘ah, Dārul-Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, Second Edition (2002) 5 Narration [Publishers] 6 Rationalization [Publishers]