What were Muhammad`s sins?

sum · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 8527 Location: UK

Hello S.A.M.

In simple terms only, please tell us if you think that Muhammad set a good example for all humanity to follow for all time when, at the age 53yrs, he had sexual intercourse with 9yr old Aisha.

sum

S.A.M · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 115

sum · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 8527 Location: UK

Hello S.A.M.

Will you be answering my question?

sum

S.A.M · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 115

Winston · Joined: 26 Jun 2008 Posts: 122 Location: Mecca (top secret)

Ex-muslimah · Joined: 19 Jul 2006 Posts: 909 Location: Scotland somewhere

sword_of_truth · Joined: 12 Oct 2008 Posts: 255

Here's the problem.

Muhammed had sex with a 9 year old.

Let's assume this didn't do any harm.

If it didn't do any harm, that's not even relevant because the problem is not the act itself, but the EXAMPLE it set.

Now, the response could be that you can only follow the example if it does not cause harm.

IF it were true that it didn't cause harm, this would be a valid argument, except that Muhammed didn't make it clear that Aisha was an exceptional case.

So this is the task for muslims. Show that Muhammed made it clear that child-marriage is subject to conditions beyond just the consent of both parties. In order for sex with a 9 year old to be considered okay, it must be proven that it is okay. It is not a decision for a 9 year old completely ignorant of medicine or psychology.

I don't think any such proof exists, hence Muhammed's bad example stands.

It may be that a sophisticated muslim can argue his way out of these problems.

However, that depends on his being sophisticated, as well as using evidence external to Islam.

If you just take it at face value, Muhammed had sex with a 9 year old, therefore it must be a great thing to do, and that's exactly what a lot of muslims conclude from it (or at least roughly something along those lines). Hence, his action was dangerous, and we legitimately criticize his bad example. Child-marriage today is granted some support by Islamic sources, even if you want to argue that it is only an interpretation of them. The interpretation is clearly facilitated by the sources themselves, and that's the problem. Allah unneccessarily sanctioned a marriage that would be a big source of legitimate criticism of Islam. Maybe not even Islam itself, but interpretations that it facilitates, and blunders that it promotes, intentionally or not.

If muslims throughout history never made these blunders (or only through their own misguidance), then Islam would be innocent.

I argue that it is hard NOT to be misguided by Muhammed's actions in this case, regardless of whether Aisha was a victim and suffered or not.

S.A.M · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 115

S.A.M · Joined: 03 Dec 2008 Posts: 115