| Answer: No doubt, there are some commentators who make the fourth verse of
Sūrah 65 as basis of their opinion that Islam has allowed marriage and its
consummation with minor girls. However, in my opinion, marriage with minor girls
is an issue which has not been discussed by the Qur’ān at all. It has been left
to us so that we can have the liberty to adopt any of the two options according
to our circumstances.
However, the verse you have quoted, in my opinion, has nothing to do with
this issue. If the linguistic principles of the Arabic language are taken into
consideration, the correct translation of the last part of this verse is:
And those women whose menstrual courses have not begun in spite of the fact
that they have reached the age in which women normally have menses, their
waiting period is three months as well. (65:4)
This translation stems from the fact that the Arabic particle used for
negation in this verse is Lam (áã)and not Mā (ãÇ). The verse is generally
translated by disregarding this subtle difference as:
And those women whose menstrual courses have not begun, their waiting period
is three months as well. (65:4)
Consequently, it is generally construed that in this verse the Iddat (waiting
period) of those divorced women (girls more so) is stated who have yet to reach
the age of puberty. So the proponents of this view infer that Islam allows
marriage with minor girls. |