Racists Ignoring a Far Larger Problem:— Islamophobic groups often refuse to acknowledge a far larger problem that plagues their own countries, despite protesting what Muhammad had done over 1,400 years ago; and these are sexual assaults against children, which are never seen of or heard of during anti-Muslim protests, as these assaults do not have anything to do with Muslims. [n. 6]

Age of Consent Laws in the West:— Before 1880, many Western countries did not even have an age of consent, and when it was brought in the age was set to between 12 and 13 years of age. As a result of prostitution, the age was then revised to between 14 and 15 years of age in Europe, whereas in the US and Canada it was set to 16. In 2007, the youngest age of consent in Europe is 13 years old and the oldest is 16 years old. In Belgium, England (where even incest was legal until 1908 [20] ), Wales, Russia, Switzerland, Scotland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Finland the age of consent is 16. In Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, [n. 4] Italy, Portugal, and Canada it is 14. In Denmark, [n. 5] France, Greece, Romania, and Sweden it is 15. In Spain it is 13. In the United States, the age of consent before 1920 ranged from 7 years old to 12 years old . It is particularly interesting that the age of consent in Turkey is 18 years old, whereas the age of consent for having sex in most Western countries is well below when they legally turn into adults (where up until 1920 the age of consent during the Ottoman Empire was deemed to be 15 years old). In contrast, Tunisia sets their age of consent at 20, and Iraq, Jordan, Morocco set theirs at 18 years old. [22] Yemen is set at 15 years old and Iran at 13 years old for women, and 15 years old for men. [22] Egypt sets theirs at 16 for women and 18 for men and Algeria with 18 for women and 21 for men. [22] Pakistan's is 16 for women and 18 for men. [23]

Age of Menstruation for Women Historically Changes:— Commonly girls were considered women when they had their first period. For example in the Ottoman Empire, ages for marriage were deemed at the first experience of menstruation for women and the seminal nocturnal emission for boys. [12] Thus, the ages were placed between 12—13 for women and 13—14 for men. [12] However if deemed sexually mature persons could be married at the age of 8 or 9 for females and 12 for men. [12] It should also be noted that the age of menstruation can change within females; they do not necessarily have to have them at a set age; it can happen earlier or much later in life. [13] It is also possible for girls get their menstruation cycle started at the age of 8 or 9 years old. [14] Furthermore, throughout history the average age of women menstruating has fluctuated dramatically. [15] The age of menstration is currently between the ages of 10 and 16 years of age. [16] Additionally, there were a whole host of reasons for females marrying at such a young age even outside of the Muslim world. [17] In the timeline, Europeans for example did it to safeguard family assets and wealth from unsuitable suitors, and Greek families did it in the 17th century in order to ensure that the right match had been found. [17] Askhenazi Jews also have a tradition where female children are married off to merchants who are able to look after young females. [17] It was also customary to marry off females at the ages of six or seven in Korea, and in China the age was often younger. [18]

Life Expectancy in Medieval Times:— The average life expectancy during medieval times was 25—30 years old; [9] [10] and during Greek times it was 20—25. [9] Even for those who survived their childhoods, males would not even be expected to live past the age of 45, and females 36. [9] In Roman times only 50% of the population survived to the age of 20, 33% to age 40, and 16.7% to the age of 60. [9] This is all based on osteo-archaeological evidence, from studying bones that have been dated back to antiquity and the medieval times. [9] Furthermore it is interesting that pregnancies in women would often result in the suppression of the immune system, making them more vulnerable to diseases and infections, and contributing to the overall higher mortality rate for women. [9] Based on this information, Muhammad's marriage to Aisha and the subsequent consummation would not have been that unusual. At least 25% of Aisha's lifespan would have gone by the age of 9, whereas in modern times her consummation would have meant that she would have done consummated at the age of 18 (as this is 25% of the average life expectancy), [n. 2] as according to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy in modern times is 71.4 years old. [11] [n. 3] Additionally, if Aisha was like most people of her time, that at worst lived only up to age 20, then almost half her life-span would have been gone by the age of 9; thus proportionally if her marriage was done in modern times she would be aged 50.

"The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became Allright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age."

History of Portraying Muhammad as a Sexual Deviant to One of Horror:— It is interesting to note that during medieval times, Muhammad's marriage to Aisha was never a contentious issue, but as of modern times it has become so. Accusations of paedophilia are abound in the contemporary setting; with scholars suggesting that this is designed to instil not only condemnation but horror. [1] [n. 1] According to one biographer, "[i]n this case, Muhammad's sexual conduct becomes the locus for a renewed vision of Islam as an archaic and evil force. [1] Medieval emphasis on debauchery and lustfulness have become, since the colonial era, concern with oppression" . [1] This moral emphasis on Muhammad's sexual life started out with condemnation on polygamy and how he dare allow women to get divorced; during European colonial times. [1] [2] Still, evidence is lacking on Aisha's actual year of birth. What is however known is that "Aisha was involved in the Battles of Badr in 624 and Uhud in 625, in neither of which was anyone under the age of 15 allowed" —which were close to the year she supposedly got married. [3] [4] Furthermore "her elder sister of 10 years, died at the age of 100, 72 years after Aisha’s wedding [making Aisha's] age at the time of her marriage at least 14, and at the time of her marriage’s consummation almost 20" . [3] Furthermore, the age of Aisha is only based on one account, allegedly attributed to Aisha herself in Sahih Bukhari (Volume 5; Book 58; Number 234). [5] However it's account is heavily disputed within Bukhari's literature. [6] [7]

[8] Muhammad caricatured in Europe in 1493, from a German woodcut.

History of Portraying Muhammad as a Sexual Deviant to One of Horror:— It is interesting to note that during medieval times, Muhammad's marriage to Aisha was never a contentious issue, but as of modern times it has become so. Accusations of paedophilia are abound in the contemporary setting; with scholars suggesting that this is designed to instil not only condemnation but horror.[1][n. 7] According to one biographer, "[i]n this case, Muhammad's sexual conduct becomes the locus for a renewed vision of Islam as an archaic and evil force.[1] Medieval emphasis on debauchery and lustfulness have become, since the colonial era, concern with oppression".[1] This moral emphasis on Muhammad's sexual life started out with condemnation on polygamy and how he dare allow women to get divorced; during European colonial times.[1][2] Still, evidence is lacking on Aisha's actual year of birth. What is however known is that "Aisha was involved in the Battles of Badr in 624 and Uhud in 625, in neither of which was anyone under the age of 15 allowed"—which were close to the year she supposedly got married.[3][24] Furthermore "her elder sister of 10 years, died at the age of 100, 72 years after Aisha’s wedding [making Aisha's] age at the time of her marriage at least 14, and at the time of her marriage’s consummation almost 20".[3] Furthermore, the age of Aisha is only based on one account, allegedly attributed to Aisha herself in Sahih Bukhari (Volume 5; Book 58; Number 234).[5] However it's account is heavily disputed within Bukhari's literature.[6][7]

"The Prophet engaged me when I was a girl of six (years). We went to Medina and stayed at the home of Bani-al-Harith bin Khazraj. Then I got ill and my hair fell down. Later on my hair grew (again) and my mother, Um Ruman, came to me while I was playing in a swing with some of my girl friends. She called me, and I went to her, not knowing what she wanted to do to me. She caught me by the hand and made me stand at the door of the house. I was breathless then, and when my breathing became Allright, she took some water and rubbed my face and head with it. Then she took me into the house. There in the house I saw some Ansari women who said, "Best wishes and Allah's Blessing and a good luck." Then she entrusted me to them and they prepared me (for the marriage). Unexpectedly Allah's Apostle came to me in the forenoon and my mother handed me over to him, and at that time I was a girl of nine years of age." —Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5; Book 58; Number 234 (Note: This was not written by Aisha, but by Bukhari who gathered what he believed were the truest statements in Islamic history; and it is further notable that this contradicts what he writes in other parts of the book).

What If Hypothetically True...What Was the Reason For the Marriage?

Muhammad with Abu Bakr; Aisha's father. Aisha's consummation was done at 9 years old, in proportion, this age is equivalent to 18 in modern times, 2015.

Life Expectancy in Medieval Times:— The average life expectancy during medieval times was 25—30 years old;[9][10] and during Greek times it was 20—25.[9] Even for those who survived their childhoods, males would not even be expected to live past the age of 45, and females 36.[9] In Roman times only 50% of the population survived to the age of 20, 33% to age 40, and 16.7% to the age of 60.[9] This is all based on osteo-archaeological evidence, from studying bones that have been dated back to antiquity and the medieval times.[9] Furthermore it is interesting that pregnancies in women would often result in the suppression of the immune system, making them more vulnerable to diseases and infections, and contributing to the overall higher mortality rate for women.[9] Based on this information, Muhammad's marriage to Aisha and the subsequent consummation would not have been that unusual. At least 25% of Aisha's lifespan would have gone by the age of 9, whereas in modern times her consummation would have meant that she would have done consummated at the age of 18 (as this is 25% of the average life expectancy),[n. 8] as according to the World Health Organization, the average life expectancy in modern times is 71.4 years old.[11][n. 9] Additionally, if Aisha was like most people of her time, that at worst lived only up to age 20, then almost half her life-span would have been gone by the age of 9; thus proportionally if her marriage was done in modern times she would be aged 50.

[19] The age of menstruation is different by historical period, time and society.

Age of Menstruation for Women Historically Changes:— Commonly girls were considered women when they had their first period. For example in the Ottoman Empire, ages for marriage were deemed at the first experience of menstruation for women and the seminal nocturnal emission for boys.[12] Thus, the ages were placed between 12—13 for women and 13—14 for men.[12] However if deemed sexually mature persons could be married at the age of 8 or 9 for females and 12 for men.[12] It should also be noted that the age of menstruation can change within females; they do not necessarily have to have them at a set age; it can happen earlier or much later in life.[13] It is also possible for girls get their menstruation cycle started at the age of 8 or 9 years old.[25] Furthermore, throughout history the average age of women menstruating has fluctuated dramatically.[15] The age of menstration is currently between the ages of 10 and 16 years of age.[16] Additionally, there were a whole host of reasons for females marrying at such a young age even outside of the Muslim world.[17] In the timeline, Europeans for example did it to safeguard family assets and wealth from unsuitable suitors, and Greek families did it in the 17th century in order to ensure that the right match had been found.[17] Askhenazi Jews also have a tradition where female children are married off to merchants who are able to look after young females.[17] It was also customary to marry off females at the ages of six or seven in Korea, and in China the age was often younger.[18]

What Age Were Females Allowed to Get Married or Have Sex in Europe and the US?

Age of consent in selected countries.

Age of Consent Laws in the West:— Before 1880, many Western countries did not even have an age of consent, and when it was brought in the age was set to between 12 and 13 years of age. As a result of prostitution, the age was then revised to between 14 and 15 years of age in Europe, whereas in the US and Canada it was set to 16. In 2007, the youngest age of consent in Europe is 13 years old and the oldest is 16 years old. In Belgium, England (where even incest was legal until 1908[20]), Wales, Russia, Switzerland, Scotland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Finland the age of consent is 16. In Austria, Bulgaria, Germany,[n. 10] Italy, Portugal, and Canada it is 14. In Denmark,[n. 11] France, Greece, Romania, and Sweden it is 15. In Spain it is 13. In the United States, the age of consent before 1920 ranged from 7 years old to 12 years old. It is particularly interesting that the age of consent in Turkey is 18 years old, whereas the age of consent for having sex in most Western countries is well below when they legally turn into adults (where up until 1920 the age of consent during the Ottoman Empire was deemed to be 15 years old). In contrast, Tunisia sets their age of consent at 20, and Iraq, Jordan, Morocco set theirs at 18 years old.[22] Yemen is set at 15 years old and Iran at 13 years old for women, and 15 years old for men.[22] Egypt sets theirs at 16 for women and 18 for men and Algeria with 18 for women and 21 for men.[22] Pakistan's is 16 for women and 18 for men.[23]

A Far Larger Problem is Ignored...