To Richard

Submitted by Taj Ashaheed (United States), Apr 16, 2006 at 03:03

Perhaps part of the difficulty you face is assuming that correction and elucidation are "attacks".
Quite simply, you hold misinformed and/or incomplete views regarding some basic facts of the Islamic faith, and this is not uncommon. However, when prejudice and bigotry come into play, therein is a heady mix of ignorant argumentation.

Your question regarding the role of hadith is a common one, but based on not understanding the science of hadith in basic fiqh and shariah. This understanding comes from actual study of its science, something most non-muslims have yet to embark on and something even muslims must do in order to increase their understanding of their own faith. It take more than reading the Quran, hadith, and historical books to judge Islam, in the same way i doubt you'd accept such a cursory effort used to judge your own religion.

A hadith is simply a report. It can be false, partially accurate, questionable, irreleveant, or reliable, and every hadith falls under one of these or more categories. Additionally, there is the use of the hadith in terms of fiqh or shariah - some hadith are relevant to such, others are not.
Again, to understand this demands more than cursory knowledge.

Regarding Aisha, I have shown that from the SAME sources where the assumption of age 6 to 9 comes from, there is more evidence to belie this assumption. Additionally, this evidence is catergorized as more reliable than the story regarding her young age. Thus in light of weighing reliable evidence, the conclusion of Aisha being 6 to 9 holds no water. It is true that there are Muslims who defend this assertion by saying that young marriages were customary at the time - and unfortunately this too is not true, nor is any proof ever given to support the contention that 6 year old girls were commonly married. But in our culture and environment of anti-arab/muslim sentiment it is easy to buy into such in order to further negative characterizations of Muhammad, Arabs, and Muslims - non of which is surprising given the fear and anger long directed towards such...

I challenge you to overcome your own fear, anger, prejudice and bigotry - perhaps by doing so you can encourage others, including Muslims to do the same...?

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