History, sects and Muslims today
How old was Aisha when she married the Prophet ﷺ?
Short answer
The traditional narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim state that Aisha was betrothed at about six and the marriage was consummated when she was about nine, after she had reached maturity. Some Muslim scholars have argued from other reports that she was older.
The fuller answer
Muslims understand this in the context of 7th-century Arabia, where marriage at puberty was normal across many cultures, including the Christian and Jewish societies of the time. The marriage was arranged by her father Abu Bakr, was not opposed by anyone, including the Prophet's enemies who attacked him in other ways, and Aisha herself later spoke warmly of it and became one of the greatest scholars of the early community.
Today, the question troubles many people because it conflicts with modern standards. Some modern scholars question the age on the basis of other reports on her age compared to her sister Asma, while most traditional scholars accept the narrations. Muslims do not take it as a licence for child marriage, and most Muslim-majority countries have legal minimum ages for marriage.
This answer follows the mainstream Sunni understanding and is general learning, not a fatwa. Where Muslims differ, the answer says so. Have a question of your own? Write to us.