The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 245
VI - Rukhsatānah of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra and an Exposition of Her Age at the Time, the Issue of Polygamy and Two Fabricated Incidents 245 ‘Ā’ishah ra is established as being ten years and some months. After this, we now ascertain the time period between the migration and Rukhsatānah. As such, it is accepted that the migration took place in Rabī‘ul-Awwal and for this reason, the first year after migration was nine and a half months. Then, since the Rukhsatānah took place in Shawwāl 2, the second year was also nine and a half months. If both of these time periods are added, we find that the era between the migration and Rukhsatānah equates to nineteen months, i. e. , one year and seven months. If this is added to the period prior to migration, the total turns out to be the very same twelve years, which we have proven from another angle. In summary, irrespective of whether we perform the calculation according to the estimate of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra or whether we do so based on her date of birth, in both cases, the result is that on the occasion of her Rukhsatānah , Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra was twelve years of age and not nine years. Most definitely, the belief of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra that she was nine years of age at the time is based on an incorrect estimate or calculation. It seems that when Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra ignored the remaining months until the start of the following year and estimated her age as being six years, she did not take into account the period in between thereafter when performing her calculation, and roughly estimated her own age as perhaps being nine years at the time of her Rukhsatānah , and therefore, this idea firmly took root in her heart. In addition to this, until then, a calendar system had not yet become customary and the Hijrī calendar system was yet to be officially devised and formulated. Furthermore, the time period between the marriage and Rukhsatānah was spread across two different categories of years (i. e. , the Nabawī years and Hijrī years). It is plausible, therefore, that Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra perhaps committed a mistake in calculation by an oversight, and then this incorrect notion became so deeply rooted in her heart that for the rest of her life thereafter, she never happened to take notice of this miscalculation. However, in any case, if it is correct that Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra was seven years of age, or around this age, when her Nikāḥ took place, the estimate of her being nine years of age at the time of her Rukhsatānah cannot be correct in any case. This is a question of mathematics, which cannot be proven wrong by any other argument. In summary, irrespective of which angle this issue is analysed from, the age of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra proves to be twelve, or close to this, at the time of her Rukhsatānah. Moreover, if the date of her Rukhsatānah is declared to be Shawwāl 1 A. H. , even still her age is established as being eleven years. Hence, the