As'salamu Alaikum dear brothers,
Very good answers dear brothers Khdrb and AhmadFarooq. Jazakum Allah Khayr.
Just in case some brainless robots from our hardcore Muslims try to answer by saying that our Mother in Islam, Aisha, was 9 when the Prophet consummated the marriage with her, then I too can marry my daughter when she is 6 and have her be consummated when she's 9, then answer him by saying:
1- Aisha's age is not an Islamic Law.
2- Aisha was married to the Prophet when the Glorious Quran was incomplete.
3- The Glorious Quran clearly commands the Muslims to marry their children when they are physically and emotionally ready for marriage. Today a 9-year old most likely wouldn't be ready. I am not saying it would be totally forbidden, but after thoroughly examining the Glorious Quran, I can tell you that most likely
Allah Almighty would not be pleased with it. People today are much more softer and less physical than people during the
primitive ages, where everything about their lives was very tough and very physical, and their lifestyle was always in a
survival mode; not cozy and comfy like ours, especially to our vulnerable children.
4- There is no indisputable proof that Aisha was actually 9 when the Prophet consummated his marriage with her. Some studies suggest that she was as old as 18. But even if she was 9, this is not a set-in-stone Law.
5- Not all Sunnah is applicable. For example,
(a)- The Prophet used to use rocks to clean himself after finishing the call of nature.
Not toilet paper.
(b)- The Prophet used to clean his mouth, teeth and breath using a wooden Siwak.
Not a tooth brush and tooth paste.
(c)- The Prophet used to ride on his camel. His camel even determined the location of the Mosque in Medina to be built.
(d)- The Prophet used to wear black makeup around his eyes.
(e)- The Prophet used to wear an iron ring.
(f)- The Prophet used to grow his hair to should level.
None of these are carved in stone today. The overwhelming majority of Muslims do not follow them. So the argument that Aisha was 9 is weak. It is not an Islamic Law that must be followed, and her age is doubtful anyway. Again, please visit:
www.answering-christianity.com/minimum_age_for_marriage.htm
www.answering-christianity.com/aisha.htmI hope this helps, insha'Allah.
Take care,
Osama Abdallah