Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) married me when I was six years old, and I was admitted to his house at the age of nine. She further said: We went to Medina and I had an attack of fever for a month, and my hair had come down to the earlobes. Umm Ruman (my mother) came to me and I was at that time on a swing along with my playmates. She called me loudly and I went to her and I did not know what she had wanted of me. She took hold of my hand and took me to the door, and I was saying: Ha, ha (as if I was gasping), until the agitation of my heart was over. She took me to a house, where had gathered the women of the Ansar. They all blessed me and wished me good luck and said: May you have share in good. She (my mother) entrusted me to them. They washed my head and embellished me and nothing frightened me. Allah's Messenger (, may peace be upon him) came there in the morning, and I was entrusted to him.
The Book of Marriage - Sahih Muslim 1422a
This narration from 'A'isha (may Allah be pleased with her) describes her marriage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) at age six and consummation at age nine. From a classical Islamic scholarly perspective, this hadith establishes the permissibility of child marriage in Islamic law, with the condition that the marriage is only consummated after the girl reaches physical maturity. The detailed account shows the cultural practices of 7th century Arabia, where such marriages were customary and socially accepted.
Scholarly Commentary
Classical scholars like Imam Nawawi in his Sharh Sahih Muslim explains that this hadith demonstrates the validity of marriage contracts for minors when arranged by their guardians. The emphasis on 'A'isha reaching physical maturity (at nine) before cohabitation reflects the Islamic requirement that marriage consummation only occurs when the girl is physically ready.
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari notes that the detailed description of the wedding preparations - the women's gathering, washing her hair, and adornment - illustrates the sunnah of celebrating marriages publicly and beautifying the bride. The women's prayers and blessings represent the recommended practice of seeking divine blessings for the couple.
Scholars throughout Islamic history have cited this hadith as evidence for the minimum marriageable age in Islamic jurisprudence, while emphasizing that contemporary application must consider modern circumstances and laws, maintaining the spirit of protecting children's welfare that underlies Islamic family law.