Age of Aisha (ra) at time of marriage with Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Before looking at the original problem of age of Ummul Momineen Aisha let us clarify what really was the year in which Holy Prophet (PBUH) married Ummul Momineen Aisha so that it may be easier to conclude about what was the age of Ummul Momineen Aisha at the time of marriage with Holy Prophet (PBUH).
 

Muhammad Ibne Ismail Bukhari has narrated in Sahih Bukhari from Ummul Momineen Aisha herself that Holy Prophet (PBUH) married Ummul Momineen Aisha three years after the death of his first wife, Ummul Momineen Khadija:

I did not feel jealous of any woman as much as I did of Ummul Momineen Khadijah because Allah's Messenger used to mention her very often. He married me after three years of her death, and his Lord (or Gabriel) ordered him to give her the good news of having a palace of reed in Paradise.

Sahih al-Bukhari hadith #3817
http://sunnah.com/bukhari/63/43




By noting that Khadijha passed away when 10 years had passed after Holy Prophet (PBUH) had been appointed as a prophet, Holy Prophet (PBUH) married Ummul Momineen Aisha in the thirteenth year after his being raised to the status of prophet. Ibne Mulqin after quoting this tradition from Bukhari and reasoning with that, says:

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) brought Ummul Momineen Aisha to his home in the year 2 AH

(Al-Ansari Al-Shafiee, Siraj Al-Din Abi Hafs Umar Ibne Ali Ibne Ahmad, known as Ibne Mulqin (Died 804 AH), Volume 1, Page 236, Researched By: Abdullah Bahr Al-Din Abdullah, Publisher: Dar Al-Bashaair Al-Islamia, Beirut, 1414 AH, 1993 AD)

According to the above narration, Holy Prophet (PBUH) married to Ummul Momineen Aisha in the thirteenth year of his Prophethood and the marriage was consummated in the year 2 AH. By quoting some other scholars, we note that Ummul Momineen Aisha was married to Holy Prophet (PBUH) in the year 4 AH.
Bilazri writes in his book Ansab Al-Ashraaf Der Sharh Hl Ummul Momineen Sodah (Ummul Momineen Sodah being another wife of Holy Prophet (PBUH)):

Holy Prophet (PBUH) after the death of Ummul Momineen Khadija, married Ummul Momineen Sodah Bint Zmaa, a few months before his migration and she was the first wife with which Holy Prophet (PBUH) had intercourse in Medina.

(Al-Bilazri, Ahmad Ibne Yahya Ibne Jabir, (Died, 279 AH), Ansaab Al-Ashraaf, Volume 1, Page 407)

Another scholar, Zahbi writes that Ummul Momineen Sodah remained the only wife of Holy Prophet (PBUH) for four years:

Ummul Momineen Sodah passed away in the last year of the caliphate of Umar, She was the onlywife of Holy Prophet (PBUH) for four years. No other lady or maid shared this position with her during those four years. After her Holy Prophet (PBUH) married Ummul Momineen Aisha

(Al-Zahbi, Shams Al-Din Muhammad Ibne Ahmad Ibne Usman, (Died, 748 AH), Tarikh Al-Islam wa Wafyaat Al-Mashaheer wa Al-Aalaam, Volume 3, Page 288, Researched By: Umar Abd Al-Salam Tdmri, Publisher: Dar Al-Kitab Al-Arbi, Lebanon / Beirut, Edition 1, 1407 AH, 1987 AD)
As a result Ummul Momineen Aisha married Holy Prophet (PBUH) in 4 AH (four years after his marriage to Ummul Momineen Sodah). Keeping this in view that Ummul Momineen Aisha married to Holy Prophet (PBUH) either in 2 AH or 4 AH. Now we take a look at the exact age of Ummul Momineen Aisha at time of marriage.

Comparison of Ummul Momineen Aisha's age to that of her sister Asma

One of the most obvious facts which certifies the age of Ummul Momineen Aisha at time of marriage with Holy Prophet (PBUH) is the comparison of her age to that of her sister Asma. According to what has been narrated in authentic resources, Asma was 10 years older than Ummul Momineen Aisha and was 27 years old in the first year after migration (1 AH). It has also been narrated that she passed away in the year 73 AH at an age of 100 years.

Abu Naeem Isbihani writes in his book Maarifah Al-Sahabah:

Asma was the sister of Ummul Momineen Aisha from his father's side and was elder to her. Asma was born 27 years before Hijrah

(Al-Isbihani, Abu Naeem Ahmad Ibne Abdullah (Died, 430 AH), Maarifah Al-Sahabah, Volume 6, Page 3253 Article: 3769)

Similarly, Tibrani writes:

Asma died in the year 73 AH after his son Abdullah Ibne Zubair. Asma was 100 years old at that time and she was born 27 years before Hijrah (27 BH).

(Al-Tibrani, Suleman Ibne Ahmad Ibne Ayyub Abul Qasim (Died, 360 AH), Al-Majam Al-Kabir, Volume 24, Page 77, Research By: Hamdi Ibne Abdulmajeed Al-Salafi, Publisher: Maktab Al-Zahra, Mosil, Edition 3, 1404 AH, 1983 AD)

Ibne Asaaker writes:

Asma was sister of Ummul Momineen Aisha from father's side and was elder to her. Asma was born 27 years before Hijrah (27 BH).

(Ibne Asaaker Al-Damishqi Al-Shafeiee, Abi Qasim Ali Ibne Hassan Ibne Habtullah Ibne Abdullah, (Died, 571 AH), Tarikh Madina Al-Damishw wa Zikr Fadhleha wa Tasmyah mi Hlhaa Min Al-Amthal, Volume 69, Page 9, Research By: Muhibbudeen Abu Saeed Umar Ibne Gharamah Al-Umri, Publisher: Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut, 1995)

Ibne Athir writes:

Abu Naeem has said: Asma was born 27 years before Hijrah (27 BH).

(Al-Jizri, Izzuddin Ibne Athir Abi Al-Hassan Ali Ibne Muhammad (Died, 630AH), Asad Al-Ghalibah fi Maarifah Al-Sahabah, Volume 7, Page 11, Research By: Adil Ahmad Al-Rifaai, Publisher: Dar Ahya Al-Trath Al-Arbi, Beirut, Lebanon, Edition 1 st , 1417 AH, 1996 AD)

Nowi writes:

It has been narrated by Abu Naeem who said: Asma was born 27 years before Hijrah (27 BH).

(Al-Nouwi, Abu Zakria, Yahya Ibne Sharaf Ibne Mari, (Died, 676 AH), Tehzeeb Al-Asmaa wa Al-Lughaat, Volume 2, Page 329,351, Research By: Maktab Al-Bahooth wa Al-Darasaat, Publisher: Dar Al-Fikr, Beirut, Edition 1 st , 1996 AD)

Hafiz Haithmi writes:

Asma was 100 years old at time of death, she was born 27 years before Hijrah (BH)

(Al-Haithmi, Abu Al-Hassan Ali Ibne Abi Bakr, (Died, 807 AH), Majma Al-Zawaid wa Manbah Al-Fwaid, Volume 9, Page 308, Publisher: Dar Al-Riyaan li Al-Tarath / Dar Al-Khitab Al-Arbi, Cairo, Beirut, 1407 AH)

Badr Al-Din Aeini writes:

Asma, the daughter of Abu Bkr, was born 27 years before Hijrah. She was the seventeenth person to become a Muslim. She passed away in 73 AH at an age of 100 years after her son Abdullah Ibne Zubair had been killed. She had not lost even a single of her teeth and nor did she go through any mental problem.

(Al-Aeini, Badr Al-Din Abu Muhammad Mahmood Ibne Ahmad Al-Gheitabi Al-Hanfi, (Died, 855 AH), Amdah Al-Qari Sharh Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Page 93, Publisher: Dar Ahya Al-Trath Al-Arbi, Beirut)

Ibne Hajr Asqalani writes:

Asma, the wife of Zubair Ibne Awaam who was a prominent companion of Holy Prophet (PBUH), lived for 100 years and died in 73 AH or 74 AH.

(Al-Asqalani Al-Shafeiee, Ahmad Ibne Ali Ibne Hajr Abu Al-Fadhl, (Died, 852 AH), Taqreeb Al-Tehzeeb, Volume 1, Page 743, 1810 Research By: Muhammad Awamah, Publisher: Dar Al-Rashid, Syria, Edition 1 st, 1406 AH, 1986 AD)

Ibne Abd Al-Bir Qartbi writes:

Asma died in Islamic month of Jamadi Al-Awal in 73 AH in Mecca after her son Abdullah Ibne Zubair had been killed. Ibne Ishaaq has said: Asma became Muslim after 17 other persons and she died at an age of 100 years

(Al-Nimri Al-Qartabi, Abu Umar Yousuf Ibne Abdullah Ibne Abd-Albir, (Died, 463 AH), Al-Isteyaab fi Maarifah Al-Ashaab, Volume 4, Page 1782-1783, Research By: Ali Muhammad Al-Bejawi, Publisher: Dar Al-Jeil, Beirut, Edition 1 st , 1412 AH)

Safdi writes:

Asma died a short while after the death of her son Abdullah Ibne Zubair in the year 73 AH. Her father, son and husband were all companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and it has been said that she was 100 years old.

(Al-Safdi Salah Al-Din Khalil Ibne Abeik, (Died, 764 AH), Al-Wfi bil Wafyaat, Volume 9, Page 36, Research by: Ahmad Al-Arnaaoot and Turkey Mostafa, Publisher: Dar Al-Ahya Al-Tarath, Beirut, 1420 AH, 2000 AD)

Beihqi has written that Asma was ten years older than Ummul Momineen Aisha as:

Ibne Mandah has narrated from Abi Al-Znaad that Asma was 10 years older than Ummul Momineen Aisha.

(Al-Beihqi, Ahmad Ibne Al-Hussain Ibne Ali Ibne Moosa Abu Bakr, (Died, 458 AH), Sunnan Al-Beihqi Al-Kubra, Volume 6, Page 204, Publisher: Maktaba Dar Al-Baaz, Mecca, Research By: Muhammad Abdul Qadir Ataa, 1414 AH, 1994 AD)

Zahbi Ibne Asaaker has also narrated the same.

Abd Al-Rahman Ibne Abi-Znaad has said that Asma was elder to Ummul Momineen Aisha by ten years.

(Al-Zahbi, Sham Al-Din Muhammad Ibne Ahmad Ibne Usman, (Died, 748 AH), Seir Aeilaam Al-Nabla, Volume 2, Page 289, Research By: Shoaib Al-Arnaaoot, Muhammad Naeem Al-Arqasoosi, Publisher: Mosisa Ar-Risalah, Beirut, 1413 AH)

Ibne Kathir Damishqi Salafi (A famous historian) writes in his famous book on history, Al-Bidayah wa Al-Nihayah:

Those who died along with Abdullah Ibne Zubair in the year 73 AH in Mecca... including Asma. She was 10 years elder to her sister Ummul Momineen Aisha and she died at an age of 100 years without loosing any of her teeth or any mental problem.

(Ibne Kathir, Al-Damishqi, Ismail Ibne Umar Al-Qarshi, Abu Al-Fidaa, Al-BIdayah wa Al-Nihayah, Volume 8, Page 127)

Mullah Ali Qari writes:

Asma was ten years older than her sister Ummul Momineen Aisha. She died ten days after the killing of her son. She was 100 years old at time of death. Her teeth were all in place and she had not be afflicted by any mental problem. She died in Mecca in the year 73 AH.

(Mullah Ali Qari, Ali Ibne Sultan Muhammad Al-Harwi, Marqah Al-Mafatih, Sharh Al-Mashkaat Al-Masaabih, Volume 1, Page 331, Research By: Jamail Aeitani, Publisher: Dar Al-Kutb Al-Ilmiyah, Lebanon / Beirut, Edition 1 st , 1422 AH, 2001 AD)

Ameer Sanaani writes:

Asma was ten years older than Ummul Momineen Aisha and she died in Mecca about less than a month after the killing of her son. She was 100 years old. This took place in 73 AH.

(Al-Sanaani Al-Ameer, Muhammad Ibne Ismaail, (Died, 852 AH), Subal Al-Salam Sharh Baloogh Al-Maram min Adillah Al-Ahkaam, Volume 1, Page 102)
From the mentioned narrations we conclude that when Holy Prophet (PBUH) was appointed as a prophet (at an age of 40 years), Asma was 14 years old and 10 years older than Ummul Momineen Aisha. So Ummul Momineen Aisha was at that time 4 years old (14-10=4). 13 years later when Holy Prophet (PBUH) married Ummul Momineen Aisha, (13+4=17), her age was 17 years and in 2 AH, (the year this marriage was consummated) she was 19 years old.

From another perspective, Asma was 100 years old in the year 73 AH. So she was 27 years old during the first year after migration (1 AH). And Ummul Momineen Aisha's age at that time would be (10years less) 17 years. As we have already seen that her marriage to Holy Prophet (PBUH) was consummated in the year 2 AH. So she was at least 19 years old at time of marriage to Holy Prophet (PBUH).

When did Ummul Momineen Aisha embrace Islam?

Ummul Momineen Aisha's year of embracing Islam also sheds light on her age at the time of marriage with Holy Prophet (PBUH). According to the authentic sources, Ummul Momineen Aisha embraced Islam in the first year of the prophecy of Holy Prophet (PBUH) and she was among those 18 persons who were the first ones to answer the call of Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Nouwi writes in Tehzeeb Al-Asmaa:

Ibne Khathima has narrated from Ibne Ishaaq in his book on history that Ummul Momineen Aisha embraced Islam in her childhood after 18 other persons.

(Al-Nouwi, Abu Zakryah, Yahya Ibne Sharaf Ibne Mari, (Died, 676 AH), Tehzeeb Al-Asmaa wa Al-Lughaat, Volume 2, Page 351)

Muqadasi writes:

The leading ones in embracing Islam: Abu Ubeida Jarah..... and among women, Asma, the daughter of Amees, wife of Jafar Ibne Abu Talib.... and Ummul Momineen Aisha who was a child at that time.

These persons embraced Islam during the three years after Holy Prophet (PBUH) had been appointed as a prophet during the time he used to invite people towards Islam privately before he entered the house of Arqam Ibne Abi Al-Arqam.

(Al-Muqadasi, Mutahar Ibne Tahir, (Died, 507 AH), Al-Bd wa Al-Tarikh, Volume 4, Page 146, Publisher: Maktab Al-Thaqafah Al-Dinyah, Bor Saeed)

And Ibne Hasham has also included Ummul Momineen Aisha among those who embraced Islam during the first year of the Prophethood when she was still a child.

(Al-Hamiri Al-Maarifi, Abd Al-Mulk Ibne Hasham Ibne Ayyub Abu Muhammad, (Died, 213 AH), Al-Seira Al-Nabuwah, Volume 2, Page 288)

If Ummul Momineen Aisha was 7 years old when she embraced Islam (the first year of Holy Prophet's (PBUH) prophecy), her age at time of consummation of her marriage with Holy Prophet (PBUH) i.e. in the year 2 AH would be 22 years. If we accept what Bilazri has narrated that she married Holy Prophet (PBUH) after four years of his marriage with Ummul Momineen Sodah, or during the year 4 AH, then her age would be 24 years at time of marriage. This number varies depending upon difference in the age of Ummul Momineen Aisha at time of embracing Islam.

It is proved that the age of Ummul Momineen Aisha at the time of marriage with prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was between 17 and 24. So, the marriage of Ummul Momineen Aisha with Holy Prophet (PBUH) at an age of 6 or 9 is not true and in fact, it is one of those lies that were fabricated during the Ummayd's time and has no historical basis.