Child marriage and controversy in Islam

Author: Abu Hena Muhammad Rafique

Question no. 6: Child marriage, how acceptable and logical is it?
وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى يَئِسْنَ مِنَ ٱلْمَحِيضِ مِن نِّسَآئِكُمْ إِنِ ٱرْتَبْتُمْ فَعِدَّتُهُنَّ ثَلَـٰثَةُ أَشْهُرٍۢ وَٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى لَمْ يَحِضْنَ ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰتُ ٱلْأَحْمَالِ أَجَلُهُنَّ أَن يَضَعْنَ حَمْلَهُنَّ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِهِۦ يُسْرًۭا [٦٥:٤]
Answer:
Let us look at the translation of the verse referred to “ And those who have become despaired from their (monthly) courses from among your wives, if fall in doubt (as regards pregnancy, when giving Talaq) then there ‘iddat (waiting time for next marriage) is three months. And those who do not get means and (those) who are bearing (progeny), their waiting period is up to giving birth of the child.”
So, in this verse, child-marriage is not mentioned. But the Hadith says: “Make hurry in giving marriage to your daughters, and before getting the next means, if you get equal status (compatible to your TAQWA and other things that are regarded by your family members).” This Hadith does not necessarily mean child-marriage. No age regarding marriage is mentioned anywhere in the Quran or Hadith. Why? Because, only the Creator knows: who at what age the girl will get the capacity to conceive and she is fit to be consummated or mated. All the abilities and the capacities are Allah’s gifts, no human, with his limited knowledge can encompass Allah’s knowledge.