Muslim Hadith no. 6707: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created the clay on Saturday

Universe Created In how many Days? Hadith Error?

Christian missionaries and anti-Islamic polemics have claimed that there is a contradiction in an authentic Hadith against modern science, by claiming that the Hadith says the Universe was created in seven 24 hours days. They also claim it contradicts the Quran, which says the heavens and Earth were created in 6 days. This is the Hadith they bring up:

أخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بيدي فقال خلق الله التربة يوم السبت وخلق فيها الجبال يوم الأحد وخلق الشجر يوم الإثنين وخلق المكروه يوم الثلاثاء وخلق النور يوم الأربعاء وبث فيها الدواب يوم الخميس وخلق آدم عليه السلام بعد العصر من يوم الجمعة في آخر الخلق في آخر ساعة من ساعات الجمعة فيما بين العصر إلى الليل قال إبراهيم حدثنا البسطامي وهو الحسين بن عيسى وسهل بن عمار وإبراهيم بن بنت حفص وغيرهم عن حجاج بهذا الحديث

Sahih Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707:
"Abu Haraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) took hold of my hands and said: Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created the clay on Saturday and He created the mountains on Sunday and He created the trees on Monday and He created the things entailing labour on Tuesday and created light on Wednesday and He caused the animals to spread on Thursday and created Adam (peace be upon him) after 'Asr on Friday;the last creation at the last hour of the hours of Friday, i.e. between afternoon and night."


So firstly, the skeptics allege that the this Hadith says the universe was created in seven 24 hours days, yet science tells us this is not the case, because a 24 hour day is based on the rotation of the earth, so the universe couldn't have been created based on that. Scholars have been mentioned that this Hadith is a Ma'lul (defective) hadith, according to the sciences of Hadith. Also, Abu Hurairah took this from Ka'b al-Ahbar, and he has been agreed upon to have narrated Israeiliyat narrations (mentioned here). So, the text cannot be proven to be authentic. This hadith is weak according to many scholars, such as Al-Bukhari, Ibn Katheer, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn al-Qayyim, Yahya Ibn Maeen,  al-Bayhaqi, Al-Tabari.. Ibn Baz and others.
 
According to the sciences of hadith, Israeiliyat narrations aren't to be used unless the agree upon authentic texts.

There are basically 3 kinds of Isra'iliyat Hadiths:

1. Those known to be true because the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad confirms them.
2. Those known to be false, because the revelation to the Prophet Muhammad rejects them.
3. Those not known to be true or false, and we do not say they are true or false. (Source)

Since this hadith's content isn't known for sure to be true or false, we remain neutral by neither rejecting or accepting it. Just for the sake of argument, I'm not going to take that position, because the allegations by critics against this Hadith can be refuted.


The Arabic "yawm" (used in the hadith) can also mean period/aeon (Lanes Lexicon - Volume 8 - Page 318). The days mentioned in the hadith (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, etc) refer to periods of time, not 24 hour days. A commentary of this hadith:


"What this means is that the creation of the universe was made in phases." (Commentary Of: Sahih Muslim, Book 23, Number 6707 - Abdul Hamid Siddiqi's Commentary - Dar Al Arabia - Volume 4 - Footnote 2974 - Page 1462).

It's mentioned in Surah 22:47 that a yawm (day, period, phase) in the sight of Allah is 1000 years of how we reckon. So, Allah sees our 24 day in this universe as a 1000 years. It's interesting to note that a variant of this hadith found in Tafsir At-Tabari's ends with:

ويوم من الستة الأيام كألف سنة مما تعدون
"Of the six days, each one a 1000 years of your reckoning."

This gives an indication that Allah created the universe in days defined as long periods. These names (Monday, Tuesday, etc..) are just names, and this does not mean that these days have the same time period of our days. Some may argue back by saying that when Allah was creating, these days (Monday, Tuesday, etc...) did not exist. However, they didn't have to exist before Allah created the universe in order for Allah to later (during the Prophet's time) assign the period of these days as 1000 years.

Furthermore, we have evidence that a day doesn't have to be defined as a 24 hour day:

Sahih Muslim, Number 7560:
"He would appear on the way between Syria and Iraq and would spread mischief right and left. O servant of Allah! adhere (to the path of Truth). We said: Allah's Messenger, how long would he stay on the earth? He said.. For forty days, one day like a year and one day like a month and one day like a week and the rest of the days would be like your days. We said: Allah's Messenger, would one day's prayer suffice for the prayers of day equal to one year? Thereupon he said: No, but you must make an estimate of time (and then observe prayer)."

The above is regarding the Dajjal's appearance. Notice even though a day will be called a day (i.e. one will say Thursday), it doesn't mean that that will be a 24 hour day. It can last a year as the hadith teaches. Similarly, the days (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, etc) do not have to be assigned a fixed time period of 24 hours in Allah's sight while creating.

We shall now turn our attention to reconciling the hadith with the Quran. Let us look at some relevant Quranic verses, to understand the time taken for the heavens and Earth better:


Surah Fussilat 41:
Verse 9: Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.

Verse 10: He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give
them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).

Verse 11: Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together,
willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience."

Verse 12: So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower
heaven with lights, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge."


The Arabic "ayam" in the above verses comes from "yawm" which can also mean period/aeon (Lanes Lexicon - Volume 8 - Page 318). Some translators (not all) have translated it like this (see here).


Explanation:

This will assume that the 2 periods in verse 9 are included in first 2 periods mentioned in verse 10, which means the last 2 periods in verse 12 add to the previous 4.

The Arabic word used for "sky" in Surah Fussilat 41:11 is "saama" (*) which in this verse means "heavens," or "universe." (*). Below, is a table which shows a chronology:

Aeon Number: Aeon 1 Aeon 2 Aeon 3 Aeon 4 Aeon 5 Aeon 6 Reference/s Surah Fussilat 41:9-10 Surah Fussilat 41:9-10 Surah Fussilat 41:10 Surah Fussilat 41:10 Surah Fussilat 41:11-12 Surah Fussilat 41:11-12 Reference Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707 Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707 Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707 Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707 Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707 Muslim, Book 39, Number 6707 Created: Earth, Nourishment Earth, Mountains, Nourishment Nourishment, Trees/plants/gardens Nourishment, Things entailing labour Light "Nur." Animals to spread

1st & 2nd Aeons:

In the 1st and 2nd aeons, Surah Fussilat 41:9 tells us the Earth was created during the this time. During the 1st aeon, we read in the Hadith that the clay was created. The Earth wasn't fully created in the 1st aeon. During the 2nd aeon, we see that according to the Hadith and Surah Fussilat 41:10, Allah created mountains on the 2nd aeon.


3rd Aeon:

We see that the Allah created the trees during the 3rd aeon according to the Hadith. Moreover, the heavens were not yet fully complete during this time. The Arabic word used for "trees" in this Hadith is: "shajara," which can also refer to: "gardens, cactus." (*) Similarly, we see in Surah Fussilat 41:10 that Allah gave them nourishment in due proportion. Since the trees and gardens were created at this point, this implies even the Sun existed at this point, due to the fact that Surah Fussilat 41:10 says: "and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion." This means all things on Earth during the 1st-3rd aeons had nourishment, indicating the Sun must have existed between this time.


4th Aeon:

In the 3rd aeon, we see that Allah created the things entailing labor. During this stage, Allah may have been nourishing the Earth still, because Surah Fussilat 41:11 includes the 4 aeons.


5th & 6th Aeons:

In the 5th aeon, according to the Hadith, Allah created the light (Arabic word is "nur," which I'll come to it later on.) During this stage, Allah may have been nourishing the Earth still, because Surah Fussilat 41:11 includes the 4 aeons. In the 5th and 6th aeons, we see that Allah caused the animals to spread. Allah also comprehended the "saama," which is the Arabic word used for "heavens" or "universe." (*) Allah comprehended the universe and it had been smoke and said to the Earth to come together willingly or not, and they came in obedience. The finish of the heavens and the Earth were completed in 6 aeons.


7th Aeon:

On the 7th aeon the entire heavens and Earth were created before this. This confirms that this 7th aeon was not an aeon of creating the heavens or the Earth. Adam was being created at the point not the heavens and Earth. Hence, the number of aeons we have in which Allah created the heavens and the Earth according to this Hadith and Quran are: Six.


Don't forget that the creation of the heavens and Earth were done simultaneously meaning the Earth and the heavens weren't created fully at once, or an 1 particular aeon.


Critics might quotes sources i.e.: Tabari, Al-Wahidi, etc, and claim that they quoted Hadiths which gave a different order of what was created. However, these sources are known by scholars to be dubious, plus Tabari in his Tarikh never verified the authenticity of what he obtained.



Other Allegations:

The next allegation of the skeptic is as follows:

"If the universe was created in six periods, each one lasting 1000 years, this contradicts science which tells us the creation took longer than that."

These are not scientific facts that tell us the how long the universe took to create. They are unestablished theories.


أن العلم حتى اليوم لم يكتشف ولم ينتبه أو لم يناقش مدة خلق السماوات و الأرض، وأتصور أن هذا الأمر بعيد جدا عن احتمالات الاكتشاف أو المعرفة لبني البشر
"Science has not discovered nor proven the period of the creation of the heavens and the earth, and I imagine that this is very far from the potential of the discovery or knowledge of the human beings." (Dr. Maher Ahmad Sufi - Signs Of Allah In The Creation Of The Universe And The Origins Of Life - Page 119 - cited here).

Even if it was a fact, we can drop Surah 22:47, and claim that the days (Monday, Tuesday, etc) in the hadith refer to 6 periods of time, and each period is unknown (could last any period).


The next allegation of the skeptic is as follows:

"In Surah Fussilat 41:9, it says the earth was created which means the full earth. If this is true, then why did the mountains come afterwards?"

No, it doesn't mean the full earth, because the Arabic word used for "Earth" in Surah Fussilat 41:9 is "ard," (*) which has the following meanings:


"amphitheatre, earth, underworld, land, ground, grounds, soil, topsoil, terrain, territory, floor, site."

Sources:
http://translate.google.com/#auto|en|%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%B6
Babylon 9 Translation Software and Dictionary Tool
أرض >> Sözlük İngilizce Türkçe Çeviri Fransızca Almanca Rusça İspanyolca İtalyanca - Sozluk.NET
Translation Arabic-English: أرض

"underworld."
أرض - Wiktionary


The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Page 13:
"ardi land, ground, underworld, subterranean."


Subterranean basically means something existing under the earth's surface. This Arabic word in Surah Fussilat 41:9 also carry these 2 meanings. When we analyze these meanings in a scientific dimension, this refers to the deeper layers of the Earth, which are inhospitable to live on. The Arabic word in Surah Fussilat 41:9 can also mean land, which means both meanings can be applied to Surah Fussilat 41:9. This would mean in the 2 aeons in Surah Fussilat 41:9, the underworld and land were created. This means Surah Fussilat 41:9 does not say the entire Earth was created.

The mountains were fully created on the 3rd aeon, and Surah Fussilat 41:10 speaks about the mountains here. So, we see that Surah Fussilat 41:9 does not say the entire Earth was created.


The next allegation of the skeptic is as follows:

"According to the same Hadith, the light (Sun) was created on Wednesday. Science tells us the Sun cannot be created after the Earth. Also, the Sun was created on Wednesday and the trees on Monday, which is against nature."

The hadith does not says "sun." The Arabic word for "sun" is "shams" (*) which is not in this Hadith. The Arabic word used in this Hadith for "light" is "noor," (* *) which doesn't merely mean "light." It has the following meanings:


noun
1. illumination
2. enlistment
3. gleam
4. day
5. flare
6. glow

verb
1. edify
2. clear
3. illuminate

Sources:
http://translate.google.com/#ar|en|%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1
Babylon 9 Translation Software and Dictionary Tool
نور >> Sözlük İngilizce Türkçe Çeviri Fransızca Almanca Rusça İspanyolca İtalyanca - Sozluk.NET
Translation Arabic-English: نور


نور ‎(nawwara) (verb form II)

1. to flower, to blossom
2. to light, to radiate, to illuminate
3. to shed light
4. to enlighten

انار ‎('anara) (verb form IV)

1. to light, to illuminate
2. to elucidate, to clarify

انور ‎('anwara) (verb form IV)

1. to come to light, to appear, to show, to be uncovered, to be disclosed, to be revealed

تنور ‎(tanawwara) (verb form V)

1. to be lit, to be illuminated
2. to receive enlightenment, to be enlightened

استنور ‎(istanwara) (verb form X)

1. to seek enlightenment, to seek insight
2. to seek an explanation
3. to receive light, to be lit, to be illuminated
4. to obtain enlightenment, to gain insight
5. to receive information, to get an explanation


نور (nur) m., أنوار ('anwar) pl.

1. light, ray of light, light beam
2. brightness, gleam, glow
3. illumination
4. lamp, light, lantern
5. headlight

Source: نور - Wiktionary

Sakhr Dictionary:

light , gleam , emergence , illumination , limelight

bloom , blossom , light

beam , lighten , wink , glow , light , spotlight , illuminate , winkle , flash , twinkle , sparkle , illumine , flicker , enlighten (the mind , etc.) glisten , glow , glimmer , gleam , glint , glitter , light up , fill with light , furnish or supply with light(s) , coruscate

The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Page 1009:
"nur light; ray of light, light beam; brightness, gleam, glow; illumination; light, lamp; blinker, flashlight/"
"nuri luminary, luminous, like light, lighting (in compounds); bright, shining, brilliant, radiant."

Arabiclookup Dictionary:

نور : نتيجة البحث عن to illuminate; light up to illuminate to lighten; illuminate; provide with light know more beam send out light and warmth; smile happily and cheerfully bloom be in flower; bear flowers; be in full beauty and perfection blossom open into flowers; develop coruscate to flash, sparkle emergence the appearance of flash break suddenly into flams ; gives out flame or sparks flicker (of a light) shine unsteadily or fitfully gleam emit gleams or shine with a fiant brightness gleam a faint or brief light glimmer shine faintly or intermittently glint flash or cause to flash; glitter; sparkle; reflect glisten shine, especially like a wet object, snow, etc; glitter glitter shine, especially with a bright reflected light; sparkle glow throw out light and heat without flame glow blaze; flash; shine; glitter illuminate light up, make bright illumination act or instance of shedding light on or (in plural) coloured lights arranged in designs to decorate a building, street, etc., or as an attractionn illumine light up, make bright light lighten; illuminate light lighten; illuminate light the energy from the sun, a flame, a lamp etc that allows you to see things lighten to illuminate, shed light on, or flash limelight the focus of attention; the full glare of puplicity sparkle emit or seem to emit sparkle; glitter spotlight highlight; lighten; illumine twinkle shine ; glimmer or blink ; wink. undeceive free (a person) from a misconception, deception, or error wink (of a light, etc) twinkle; shine or flash intermittently winkle shine brightly; twinkle

When it says "noor" in this hadith, it doesn't refer to the Sun, it refers to the illumination which can be seen on Earth. Keep in mind the "nur" referred to here was created on Wednesday, which (according to the Hadith) means the "nur" was created after the land and mountains where put on the Earth. This can refer to the moon because today, scientists have come up with theories that the moon was created after the upper layer (outer crust) of the Earth had been created.

"So the Moon is thought to have been pieced together by the bits that got blown off the upper layers of Earth, as well as the outer portions of the object that hit Earth."

Source: http://www.space.com/scienceastronom..._010815-1.html


Notice in the article, it states "the UPPER LAYERS of the Earth." The Arabic word for "clay" used in this hadith is: "turba," which doesn't only mean "clay" but has the following meanings:

1. soil
2. ground
3. earth
4. dust

Sources:
http://translate.google.com/#ar|en|%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A9
Babylon 9 Translation Software and Dictionary Tool
Translation Arabic-English: تربة
تربة >> Sözlük İngilizce Türkçe Çeviri Fransızca Almanca Rusça İspanyolca İtalyanca - Sozluk.NET


Sakhr Dictionary:
"ground , soil , earth , clod , dust , moist earth."

Alexandria translator:
"ball, chunk, clod, clump, dirt, earth, glob, ground, land, lump, soil."


The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, Page 92:
"turba dust, earth, dirt; ground; soil."
"turb dust, earth, dirt; ground, soil."

More meanings of this word at: www.arabiclookup.com


Hence, this refers to the "land" which was created in the 2nd aeon. The upper layer (and land) had already been created on the 2nd aeon, thus this theory from the scientific source conciliates the Hadith, because for the moon to have been "pierced together" by bits from the "upper layer" of the Earth, the moon must have come AFTER the Earth's land had been spread on the Earth. Similarly, we see the land had been created in the 1st aeon and later on, the "nur" had been created, according to the Hadith. So, it is very possible that the "nur" in this Hadith refers to the illuminating moon. Keep in mind the Quran describes ONLY the moon as "nur" which refers to "illuminating," and "muneer" which refers to "a reflection of light." (see Quran 10:5, 71:16, 25:61). Science hasn't reached that far to make this a bedrock fact that the Moon was created during the process of the Earth's.

This "nur" cannot refer to the Sun because according to Surah Fussilat 41:10 and the Hadith, due nourishment were given to all that was on Earth during the 1st- 4th aeons. During the 2nd aeon, Allah created the trees and the things entailing labor. For the trees, gardens etc to have had: "due nourishment," the Sun must have been existed at this time, which is BEFORE the "nur" came on the 5th aeon. This clearly implies the "nur" in aeon 5 (which Hadith mentions) DOES NOT refer to the Sun. It is very possibly refers to the moon.

Further readings:

http://www.call-to-monotheism.com/six_or_eight_days_creation__

Who's the 1st Muslim?

The alleged contradiction by the skeptic is: "Who was the first Muslim? Muhammad was: Sura 6:14, Sura 6:163 & Sura 39:11-12. Jesus was: Sura 3:52. Ibrahim was the 1st Muslim: Sura 3:67."

Reply:

Surah Anam 6:14:
"Say: "Shall I take for my protector any other than God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth? And He it is that feedeth but is not fed." Say: "Nay! but I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to God (in Islam), and be not thou of the company of those who join gods with God."

Surah Anam 6:163:
"No partner hath He: this am I commanded, and I am the first of those who bow to His will."

Surah Zumur 39:11-12:
"Say: "Verily, I am commanded to serve God with sincere devotion; And I am commanded to be the first of those who bow to God in Islam."

What this basically and simply means that Muhammad is commanded to be the first Muslim AMONG HIS PEOPLE. That is all it means, it means that Muhammad is the first Muslim among his people, and is commanded to be the first Muslim among his people. So it does not contradict the other verses, Muhammad is not the 1st Muslim on the planet, it just means the first Muslim among his people. Note that Surah Anam 6:14 tells Muhammad to be not of the idolaters, who were the idolaters? The idolaters were the Quraysh, they were Muhammad's people, so hence it is crystal clear when it is said for Muhammad to be the first Muslim it just basically means among his people. Let us read the tafsir of Al-Jalalayn, regarding Surah Anam 6:14:

"Say, to them: 'Shall I take as a protector, to worship, other than God, the Originator of the heavens and the earth, the One Who has created them without any precedent, He Who feeds, Who gives sustenance, and is not fed?', and is not given sustenance. Say: 'I have been commanded to be the first to submit, to God, from among this community, and, it was said to me: "Do not be among those who associate others," with Him."


Let us also read the tafsir of Al-Jalalayn, regarding Surah Anam 6:163:
"No associate has He, in these things. And to this, affirmation of the Oneness [of God], I have been commanded, and I am the first of those who submit', from among this community."

Let us also read the tafsir (* *) for Al-Jalalayn, regarding Surah Zumur 39:11-12:
"Say: 'Indeed I have been commanded to worship God devoting [my] religion purely to Him, [pure] of any idolatry, and I have been commanded to be the first of those who submit', from this community."

Moreover, in Surah Anam 3:67, it does NOT say Ibrahim was the first Muslim, go read it yourself:

Surah Anam 3:67:
"Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah."

Ibrahim was the first to submit his will to God (which defines Muslim) during his time. So from this, we understand that Muhammad was the 1st Muslim to submit to God among his people ONLY from his specific community. The term "Muslim" means: submitting your will to God. So, even Adam, Jesus, Ibrahim and all the prophets used to submit their will to God hence they were Muslims. Muhammad is commanded to be the first Muslim among his people, so submit in Islam and that is all that is meant by Muhammad being the first Muslim, so there's no contradiction.

Refuting a grave allegation by people of ignorance

The American Academy of Pediatrics defines "child sexual abuse" as follows:

The engaging of a child in sexual activities that the child cannot comprehend, for which the child is developmentally unprepared and cannot give informed consent, and violate the social taboos of society. In general, children cannot consent to any sexual activity, but the legal age of consent may vary by state.

Precocious puberty refers to the appearance of physical and hormonal signs of pubertal development at an earlier age than is considered normal. For many years, puberty was considered precocious in girls younger than 8 years; however, a recent study and review suggest that age 7 years is a more appropriate age boundary for white girls and age 6 years for black girls. For boys, onset of puberty before age 9 years is considered precocious

The first menstrual period is called menarche. It usually happens around age 12 but may start as early as age 9. Menarche is a sign you are growing up and becoming a woman. Along with starting your period, your body is changing. You've begun to develop breasts, pubic hair, and underarm hair, and your hips have begun to widen. Menarche also means that if you have sex, you can get pregnant. You can even get pregnant in the month before your first period starts.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, definition of Paedophile is:

"Pedophile: also spelled PAEDOPHILIA, psychosexual disorder in which an adult's arousal and sexual gratification occur primarily through sexual contact with prepubescent children. The typical paedophile is unable to find satisfaction in an adult sexual relationship and may have low self-esteem, seeing sexual activity with a child as less threatening than that with an adult."*

Indeed, his first wife Khadiga was twice widowed before and was older than him by 15 years. All his wives except Aisha were widows. Therefore, it is evident that Prophet Muhammad's marriage with Aisha was an exception and Prophet did indeed find adult relationship. Prophet also did not have low self-esteem, as it is evident from his his biography.

Harold I. Kaplan et al. (Synopsis of Psychiatry, 5th ed. [Williams and Wilkens, 1988], p. 360) writes:

"In addition to their paedophilia, a significant number of paedophiles are concomitantly or have previously been involved in exhibitionism, voyeurism, or rape". (Voyeurism is the recurrent preoccupation with fantasised or acts that involve seeking out or observing people who are naked, or are engaged in grooming or in sexual activity).

It is commonly accepted by Muslims and non-muslims (un-biased) that Prophet in no sense indulged in "exhibitionism, voyeurism, or rape" or even came close to it. There is not a single reference to indicate that prophet was involved in any such act. In addition, Prophet waited for Aisha to mature and reach Puberty before the marriage was consummated, this obviously is contrary to the characteristics of a paedophile.
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Betrothal at very young ages was fairly common amongst the gentry in europe as well, consummation was often deferred.

The American colonies in the 17th century have fairly widespread cases of very young marriage down to the age of seven and twelve a century ago was often the age of consent in Western societies, it still is in Japan.

You do have to remember that the odd Western concept of childhood really is a Victorian invention and marriage for most of it's history is a binding economic pact between two families it had little to do with the lovey dovey institution we have today. In Arabic societies it was and still is often the way of settling disputes and making alliances.

For example;
Prince Edward of Wales married the French king’s daughter, Isabella, who was only seven years old and Romanos II married Bertha , the daughter of the King of Italy, when she was only four years old. Richard of Shrewsbury, King Edward IV’s son, married the five year old Anne Mowbray of Norfolk

(Pope consent was a prerequisite of the time).

Defending agaisnt the false accuse of pedophilia I have seen many non muslims and many sites accusing the marriage as an act of pedophilia..(naozubillah)
.
The diagnostic criteria of pedophilia is
The ICD-10 defines pedophilia as “a sexual preference for children, boys or girls or both, usually of prepubertal or early pubertal age.”[6]Under this system’s criteria, a person 16 years of age or older meets the definition if they have a persistent or predominant sexual preference for prepubescent children at least five years younger than them
Pedophilia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.
FOR ALL SUCH NON MUSLIMS,THE BEHAVIOUR OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD S.A.W.W CLEARLY DENIES THE CRITERIA OF PEDOPHILIA…FIRST OF ALL,THERE WAS NO SUCH TYPE OF BEHAVIOUR AT ALL,THE WIFE HAD ATTAINED PUBERTY TILL THEN,SO SHE WAS NOT A CHILD AT ALL..(age of 9 at marriage,and waiting for 3 years)
SECONDLY,FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DOUBTS REGARDING THIS MARRIAGE,…AGAIN,THERE WAS NO PERSISTANT BEHAVIOUR TO ACCUSE FOR PEDOPHILIA..SO IT WAS TOTALLY WRONG ACCUSE.
Also,in case of such offenses,the psychological development and the personality of the victim are much impaired..but for Ayesha r.a,

• She had good memory,she had reported about thousands of ahadees….
• She was intellectual,she had good reasoning ability,she was best in jurisprudence…
• She was bold,self confident (the battle of camel..u may judge her superb level of confidence,the degree of boldness)
• She had good decision making power.

Now,comparing with the personality of a victim of child abuse,the personality which contradits with that of Ayesha r.a.

• the person is not that confident and bold
• the person doesnt not feel himself/herself LUCKY (Ayesha r.a was confident and happy about the love of her Husband for her)
• the person suffering from psychological problems,would have much difficulty in learning,reasoning and intellectual persuits

European Court of Human Rights: Insulting Prophet Muhammad not ‘free speech’

Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w had married only a single girl of such a young age,with clear hints of attained puberty by the time,and with the upbringing of Ayesha r.a. in an enviornment where she had excellent physiological and psychological development.

http://rasoulallah.net/index.php/en/articles/category/1077

Related topic: The Best Couple Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Aisha (R.A) 
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The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15 Ed. - Volume 9 - Page 235 

Did Prophet Muhammad beat his wife, Aisha?

The wording used:
Consider the second highlight in the narration. This is the wording they seek evidence with. Now the Arabic wording for this is;

فَلَهَدَنِي فِي صَدْرِي لَهْدَةً أَوْجَعَتْنِي

“He struck (lahad) me on the chest which caused me pain.”
Now for the meaning of the word, ‘lahad’, let’s refer to Lane’s lexicon. He writes;

Edward William Lane, Arabic-English Lexicon p. 2676
So it simply means, ‘to push.’ Therefore the most appropriate translation ought to be, ““He pushed me [hard] on the chest which caused me pain.”

The context:
Although the narration is self explanatory but usually people miss the parts which explain the thing.
1- The Prophet, may Allah bless him, was with ‘Aisha, may Allah bless her that night. Archangel Gabriel came to him and asked to him to move to Baqi’ graveyard.
2- The Prophet, may Allah bless him, went out of the bed and moved to Baqi’.
3- ‘Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, curious as to where he had done, followed him and once he turned back she hastened before him and thus was out of breath.
4- When ‘Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, on being questioned told the Prophet, may Allah bless him, the whole story, he pushed her hard on her chest.
5- Although this pressing of the chest caused ‘Aisha, may Allah bless her, some pain but it was not intended as beating rather, it was only to ward off the wrong thought that had come to her heart. This is clear from the words of the Prophet, may Allah bless him; “Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?” i.e. Allah will ask his Messenger to spend the night of Aisha’, may Allah bless turn, with some other wife.

Holy Prophet used to do it to ward off wrong thoughts:
There are more reports showing that Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him, used to do the same pushing and striking on chest to ward off wrong thoughts.
See the following two examples;

فَسَقَطَ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ التَّكْذِيبِ وَلَا إِذْ كُنْتُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا رَأَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا قَدْ غَشِيَنِي ضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي فَفِضْتُ عَرَقًا وَكَأَنَّمَا أَنْظُرُ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَرَقًا

“Ubbay said: There occurred in my mind a sort of denial which did not occur even during the Days of Ignorance. When the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him, saw how I was affected, was affected (by a wrong idea), he struck my chest. I broke into a sweat and felt as if I were looking at Allah in fear.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1356)
Clearly the Prophet, may Allah bless him, did it to ward off the evil thoughts that occurred in the mind of Ubayy, may Allah be pleased with him.
Another narration goes as;

أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ضرب صدر عمر بن الخطاب بيده حين أسلم ثلاث مرات وهو يقول : « اللهم أخرج ما في صدره من غل وأبدله إيمانا

“The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him, hit the chest of Umar bin Khattab with his hand three times when he embraced Islam and he said, ‘O Allah remove the malice from his heart and replace it with faith.’” (Mustadrak al-Hakim, Hadith 4492. Hakim authenticated it)
Now obviously, his reversion to Islam was a great event and it is inconceivable that Prophet, may Allah bless him, would ‘beat’ him then. Even though the narration uses the word ‘dharab’ meaning ‘hit/strike’ no reasonable person that Holy Prophet, may Allah bless him, beat him. And clearly the context proves the Prophet did it to for the same reason as in the example above and in the Hadith in question.

Did Sayyidah Aisha think she was beaten?
If someone is still obstinate on his erroneous and dishonest assertion or is still confused, let us read as to what ‘Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, herself think. In the same compendium of Hadith, Sahih Muslim, there is a narration;

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ مَا ضَرَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَيْئًا قَطُّ بِيَدِهِ وَلَا امْرَأَةً وَلَا خَادِمًا إِلَّا أَنْ يُجَاهِدَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ

“Aisha reported that Allah's Messenger, may Allah bless him, never beat anyone with his hand, neither a woman nor a servant, but only, in the case when he had been fighting in the cause of Allah …” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 4296)
One can see, Sayyidah Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, is saying that Prophet, may Allah bless him, never beat any woman or a servant. After such a clear testimony from her, is it anything but intellectual dishonesty to assert to the contrary?

A look at the article about so-called wife-beating in Islam will be helpful too.
Indeed Allah knows the best!
Did Prophet Muhammad beat his wife, Aisha?
http://sunnah.com/muslim/11/132