The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 237
VI Rukhsatānah of Ḥaḍrat ‘ Ā ’ ishah ra and an Exposition of Her Age at the Time, the Issue of Polygamy and Two Fabricated Incidents Rukhsatānah 1 of Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra - Month of Shawwāl 2 A. H. It has already been mentioned in Volume I of this book that after the demise of Ḥaḍrat Khadījah ra , the Holy Prophet sa was tied in a bond of matrimony to ‘Ā’ishah Ṣiddīqah ra. This was in 10 Nabawī during the month of Shawwāl. 2 At the time, Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah ra was seven years of age. 3 However, even at the time, it seems that her growth and development had matured remarkably well; otherwise, there was no reason for Khaulah bint Ḥakīm ra , who had suggested this marriage, to consider her as being a suitable match for the Holy Prophet sa. In any case, she had not fully matured until then, and for this reason, although the Nikāḥ 4 had taken place, the Rukhsatānah was yet to take place and thus, according to local custom, she continued to reside with 1 Marriage - Refer to glossary for further details. [Publishers] 2 Al-Istī‘ābu Fī Ma‘rifatil-Aṣḥāb, By Abū ‘Umar Yūsuf bin ‘Abdillāh bin Muḥammad, Volume 4, p. 436, ‘Ā’ishatu bintu Abī Bakris-Ṣiddīq, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2002) 3 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) 4 Formal announcement of marriage. [Publishers]