Is this what you call Freedom of Speech?!*
Written by :Doaa El Saeady
* This article has been published on The Daily Telegraph on 3rd of may 2011 under title "prop Prophet Mohammed was never a pedophile" and that’s was revised by Dr.Kamal el kawary ( a teacher in the faculty of Islamic studies in English language )
At the time in which almost Arab nations breathe the squeeze of democracy and freedom toppling all the tyrannies and dictates, they still suffer from western bigotry and false allegations triggered from some of their fanatic writers. one these is what I've read in the world wide daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph written by one of it's bloggers claiming that prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him ) , the most righteous and unspotted person , is a pedophile and we refute his maliciousallegation through the holy Qur`an in the verse that reads :
" No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! " (Al-Kahf :5)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him ) was never a pedophile and that’s why :
First: this allegation suffers from the lack of scientific objectivity as it neglects considering the Prophet's well-documented biography. Here is a brief reply to this allegation.
The Prophet lived all his childhood and youth in Mecca. He possessed an extraordinary excellent manner. He was known at that period to be truthful, honest, trustworthy and upright. This testimony to his noble character was admitted by his friends and his enemies alike. Furthermore He was also known as a merciful and compassionate man and here is a dialogue between one of his enemies and Heracles, the king of Romans affirms this point. You will find it on the following link:
http://www.pbuh.us/prophetMuhammad.php?f=Cr_LifeBefore
The unbelievers opposed the Prophet Muhammad's message by all means seeking to undermine the new religion out of their hatred and envy. One of the reasons that stands behind their opposition is the Islamic principle of equality among all human beings. Islam teaches that all people are equal at the sight of God which the polytheists of Makkah considered as a threat to their high status and their leadership of the Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula. No one dared to claim that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a pedophile or even a lascivious despite the fact that they physically attacked him aggressively and brutally to the extent that there were many attempts to claim his life. No one dared to accuse the Prophet Muhammad of committing an indecent behavior, no one.
The points raised above are affirmed by all historians. Please, check the following references (in English) to make sure of this point. Here are some related links.
http://www.pbuh.us/index.php
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/
http://www.islam-guide.com/
http://www.imanway1.com/
http://www.islamtoday.com/
http://english.islamway.com//
http://www.sultan.org/
http://www.islamworld.net/
http://www.islam-qa.com/
http://www.discoverislam.com/
http://www.isesco.org.ma/
http://www.islamicity.com/
http://www.islamicfinder.org/index.php?lang=english
http://www.al-islam.com/eng/
http://www.islambasics.com
http://www.muhammed-jesus.com/indexe.php
http://www.islamhouse.com/p/57263
Second: a close investigation of some historical facts reveals that people in the past were stronger in physical construction and faster in sexual maturity and adulthood than our own generations, especially in desert environment and hot areas, that's why they become ready for marriage much earlier than others in cooler places. An American physician called Dr Doshney asserted that a white girl in USA may become mature at the age of seven or eight, while a girl with African origin may reach maturity at the age of six. It is, therefore, a medical fact that girls in hot areas become physically mature at an early age that starts from eight or nine. This is besides the fact that most of girls in rural and tribal societies prefer to get married directly after reaching the age of puberty as long as they are able to shoulder marriage responsibilities.
In Christianity, there's a clear example that will undermine your argument. That is what the Catholic Encyclopedia mentioned concerning Lady Mary the virgin. She was betrothed to Joseph the carpenter when she was only twelve years old and he was about ninety. So, why do you criticise Prophet Muhammad and forget this similar example in your religion, the two cases indicates that it was then the age of marriage.
Third: It's unfair to pass such a judgment towards a separate act away from its concomitant circumstances. It is taking a text out of context as a pretext. You condemn a legal marriage that had taken place four hundred and thousand years ago, however you are oblivion of what is happening in our world today. Nowadays, in Europe, for example, a girl doesn't get married before the age of twenty five while she already has sexual relationships at the age of ten.
Arranging marriage of girls at this age was very common and widespread at the time and in the region where the Prophet Muhammad lived. So he wasn't an exception from the rule or an odd case. On the contrary, he was the ordinary and normal case so neither his followers nor his enemies - from his generation or several next generations and until now- dared to call him a pedophile. Marrying girls immediately after they become mature is still the normally practiced in several places in Asia and Africa.
Fourth: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) wasn't the first one to propose marriage to sayyeda Aisha bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), she received previous proposals which confirms the fact that she was at the proper age to arrange for her marriage.
Fifth: sayyeda Aisha was known for her early intelligence and wisdom so she was unlike most of girls of her age (nine) in our time, so she was much more grown up and ready to be a wife.
Sixth : a pedophile is an abnormal person and is defined as (A person afflicted with pedophilia, a sexual perversion in which children are preferred as sexual partner) so he has something wrong in his psychological nature. Such a person is ill. Is it rational or logic to suppose that these symptoms of this illness (pedophilia) started to appear suddenly at the age of fifty three on an unspotted and completely straight and upright man??! Why didn't he try it before? One more question: does a pedophiliac man practice such a shameful crime publicly and proudly?? Or does he practice it secretly and shamefully?? No one can imagine that there is a person who will accept to give his little child who is not suitable for marriage as a wife to pedophiliac person!!!!
Seventh: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) married Aaisha as a fully dignified wife and an honored bride. He gave her all her financial rights (from dowry and other rights) after she became fully and completely physically mature and able to shoulder the responsibilities of a wife. He engaged her at the age of six; however the marriage was consummated three years later when she reached the age of nine.
Eighth: Do you think that a pedophiliac is easily satisfied? Is it easy for him to fulfill his wicked desires with only one woman or "child", if you would like to call her so?? I don't think so as this evil person would never be sexually gratified. I have recently and repeatedly read on The Telegraph about the crimes of sexual abuse against children and even infants. In every time the investigations finds out that the criminals are getting used long long ago to practice these heinous crimes with many victims, which illustrates that when we talk about Prophet Mohammed's marriage, we are discussing a completely different issue .
Finally: Do you think that such an abnormal person could lead a normal and successful life with normal women before and after having such perverted relationship?? I don't think so.
In fact, there is a considerable difference in the customs and traditions of people living in rural and tribal societies and those living in urban ones in the Arab countries. In rural and tribal societies people are used to arrange for the girls marriage at an early age contrarily to urban societies. For me personally, (a thirty two years old wife) I was married directly after my graduation at the age of twenty two, whereas the vast majority of my female cousins, relatives, and friends in the countryside of Egypt were getting married between the age of nine and fifteen. It is still the normal practice up to now. All these women and millions like them are now respected mothers and dignified wives. They enjoy all their rights and perform all their duties and responsibilities. They are all leading a very normal life and no one called them pedophiliac!!
So why do you insist on neglecting the elements of customs, traditions, life style and social norms of the time and place when and where the prophet (peace be upon him) lived? It is a truth that every society has its own different and distinct social norms which strongly and basically affects the patterns of behavior of its individuals. We all have to understand and appreciate each of these elements otherwise we, for example, should consider sexual relationships between boys and girls in Western communities adultery, but in fact we don't, simply because we realize, understand, and respect the differences between our culture and religion and yours. Similarly you should do the same you should understand that girls in the time of the prophet and up till now in some warm regions all over the world become physically and sexually adult at an early age (and it is a scientific fact). It is worth mentioning that I am an Eastern woman and I am quite sure of what I am talking about.
" No knowledge have they of such a thing, nor had their fathers. It is a grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying what they say is nothing but falsehood! " (Al-Kahf :5)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him ) was never a pedophile and that’s why :
First: this allegation suffers from the lack of scientific objectivity as it neglects considering the Prophet's well-documented biography. Here is a brief reply to this allegation.
The Prophet lived all his childhood and youth in Mecca. He possessed an extraordinary excellent manner. He was known at that period to be truthful, honest, trustworthy and upright. This testimony to his noble character was admitted by his friends and his enemies alike. Furthermore He was also known as a merciful and compassionate man and here is a dialogue between one of his enemies and Heracles, the king of Romans affirms this point. You will find it on the following link:
http://www.pbuh.us/prophetMuhammad.php?f=Cr_LifeBefore
The unbelievers opposed the Prophet Muhammad's message by all means seeking to undermine the new religion out of their hatred and envy. One of the reasons that stands behind their opposition is the Islamic principle of equality among all human beings. Islam teaches that all people are equal at the sight of God which the polytheists of Makkah considered as a threat to their high status and their leadership of the Arabs in the Arabian Peninsula. No one dared to claim that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a pedophile or even a lascivious despite the fact that they physically attacked him aggressively and brutally to the extent that there were many attempts to claim his life. No one dared to accuse the Prophet Muhammad of committing an indecent behavior, no one.
The points raised above are affirmed by all historians. Please, check the following references (in English) to make sure of this point. Here are some related links.
http://www.pbuh.us/index.php
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/
http://www.islam-guide.com/
http://www.imanway1.com/
http://www.islamtoday.com/
http://english.islamway.com//
http://www.sultan.org/
http://www.islamworld.net/
http://www.islam-qa.com/
http://www.discoverislam.com/
http://www.isesco.org.ma/
http://www.islamicity.com/
http://www.islamicfinder.org/index.php?lang=english
http://www.al-islam.com/eng/
http://www.islambasics.com
http://www.muhammed-jesus.com/indexe.php
http://www.islamhouse.com/p/57263
Second: a close investigation of some historical facts reveals that people in the past were stronger in physical construction and faster in sexual maturity and adulthood than our own generations, especially in desert environment and hot areas, that's why they become ready for marriage much earlier than others in cooler places. An American physician called Dr Doshney asserted that a white girl in USA may become mature at the age of seven or eight, while a girl with African origin may reach maturity at the age of six. It is, therefore, a medical fact that girls in hot areas become physically mature at an early age that starts from eight or nine. This is besides the fact that most of girls in rural and tribal societies prefer to get married directly after reaching the age of puberty as long as they are able to shoulder marriage responsibilities.
In Christianity, there's a clear example that will undermine your argument. That is what the Catholic Encyclopedia mentioned concerning Lady Mary the virgin. She was betrothed to Joseph the carpenter when she was only twelve years old and he was about ninety. So, why do you criticise Prophet Muhammad and forget this similar example in your religion, the two cases indicates that it was then the age of marriage.
Third: It's unfair to pass such a judgment towards a separate act away from its concomitant circumstances. It is taking a text out of context as a pretext. You condemn a legal marriage that had taken place four hundred and thousand years ago, however you are oblivion of what is happening in our world today. Nowadays, in Europe, for example, a girl doesn't get married before the age of twenty five while she already has sexual relationships at the age of ten.
Arranging marriage of girls at this age was very common and widespread at the time and in the region where the Prophet Muhammad lived. So he wasn't an exception from the rule or an odd case. On the contrary, he was the ordinary and normal case so neither his followers nor his enemies - from his generation or several next generations and until now- dared to call him a pedophile. Marrying girls immediately after they become mature is still the normally practiced in several places in Asia and Africa.
Fourth: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) wasn't the first one to propose marriage to sayyeda Aisha bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), she received previous proposals which confirms the fact that she was at the proper age to arrange for her marriage.
Fifth: sayyeda Aisha was known for her early intelligence and wisdom so she was unlike most of girls of her age (nine) in our time, so she was much more grown up and ready to be a wife.
Sixth : a pedophile is an abnormal person and is defined as (A person afflicted with pedophilia, a sexual perversion in which children are preferred as sexual partner) so he has something wrong in his psychological nature. Such a person is ill. Is it rational or logic to suppose that these symptoms of this illness (pedophilia) started to appear suddenly at the age of fifty three on an unspotted and completely straight and upright man??! Why didn't he try it before? One more question: does a pedophiliac man practice such a shameful crime publicly and proudly?? Or does he practice it secretly and shamefully?? No one can imagine that there is a person who will accept to give his little child who is not suitable for marriage as a wife to pedophiliac person!!!!
Seventh: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) married Aaisha as a fully dignified wife and an honored bride. He gave her all her financial rights (from dowry and other rights) after she became fully and completely physically mature and able to shoulder the responsibilities of a wife. He engaged her at the age of six; however the marriage was consummated three years later when she reached the age of nine.
Eighth: Do you think that a pedophiliac is easily satisfied? Is it easy for him to fulfill his wicked desires with only one woman or "child", if you would like to call her so?? I don't think so as this evil person would never be sexually gratified. I have recently and repeatedly read on The Telegraph about the crimes of sexual abuse against children and even infants. In every time the investigations finds out that the criminals are getting used long long ago to practice these heinous crimes with many victims, which illustrates that when we talk about Prophet Mohammed's marriage, we are discussing a completely different issue .
Finally: Do you think that such an abnormal person could lead a normal and successful life with normal women before and after having such perverted relationship?? I don't think so.
In fact, there is a considerable difference in the customs and traditions of people living in rural and tribal societies and those living in urban ones in the Arab countries. In rural and tribal societies people are used to arrange for the girls marriage at an early age contrarily to urban societies. For me personally, (a thirty two years old wife) I was married directly after my graduation at the age of twenty two, whereas the vast majority of my female cousins, relatives, and friends in the countryside of Egypt were getting married between the age of nine and fifteen. It is still the normal practice up to now. All these women and millions like them are now respected mothers and dignified wives. They enjoy all their rights and perform all their duties and responsibilities. They are all leading a very normal life and no one called them pedophiliac!!
So why do you insist on neglecting the elements of customs, traditions, life style and social norms of the time and place when and where the prophet (peace be upon him) lived? It is a truth that every society has its own different and distinct social norms which strongly and basically affects the patterns of behavior of its individuals. We all have to understand and appreciate each of these elements otherwise we, for example, should consider sexual relationships between boys and girls in Western communities adultery, but in fact we don't, simply because we realize, understand, and respect the differences between our culture and religion and yours. Similarly you should do the same you should understand that girls in the time of the prophet and up till now in some warm regions all over the world become physically and sexually adult at an early age (and it is a scientific fact). It is worth mentioning that I am an Eastern woman and I am quite sure of what I am talking about.