It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Messenger of Allah married her when she was six years old, and consummated the marriage with her when she was nine.
The Book of Marriage - Sunan an-Nasa'i 3255
From the classical Islamic scholarly perspective, this narration establishes the permissibility of marriage with young girls in Islamic law, provided they reach physical maturity. The scholars explain that the Prophet's marriage to 'Aishah at six and consummation at nine demonstrates that the determining factor for marriage validity is physical capability (bulugh) rather than a specific age.
Scholarly Commentary on Age Considerations
Classical jurists from all major schools of thought derived from this hadith that marriage with prepubescent girls is permissible, though consummation is only allowed after physical maturity. Scholars like Ibn Qudamah in al-Mughni and an-Nawawi in Sharh Sahih Muslim emphasized that this ruling applies when the marriage serves the child's welfare.
The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools all acknowledge this ruling while emphasizing the guardian's responsibility to ensure the marriage serves the child's best interests. Modern scholars note that cultural contexts differ, but the legal principle remains established in classical jurisprudence.
Historical Context and Wisdom
Commentators like Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari explain that this marriage strengthened tribal alliances and allowed 'Aishah to be raised in the Prophet's household, enabling her to become one of Islam's greatest scholars who transmitted over 2,000 hadith. The age difference was customary in 7th century Arabian society and reflected norms of that era.