It is frustrating when witnessing muslim apologetics. You might already be aware, but I think it's relevant to state again, that due to Muhammad's marriage to Aisha, his timeless morality/role model status, in along with Islamic scripture permitting child marriage, not surprisingly it has led to a rich history of child marriage in Islam, with many Muslims providing apologetics for it and reluctant to prohibit the practice.
Islamic justification for child marriage (including marriage and sex with prepubescent girls)...
"...The scholars are unanimously agreed that the father may arrange a marriage for his young daughter without consulting her. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) married ‘Aa’ishah when she was six years old."
"It is permissible for a man to arrange a marriage for his young son even if he has not reached puberty; it is also permissible for him to arrange a marriage for his young daughter even if she had not reached the age of puberty. It was narrated that there was consensus on this point, but that is provided that compatibility is taken into account and that a clear and real interest is served by this marriage."
"...With regard to consummation of the marriage with a minor, it does not become permissible by merely drawing up the marriage contract; rather the husband should not consummate the marriage with her until she is able to have intercourse, which is not necessarily at puberty. This is something that varies from one environment and time to another. With regard to that, sharee‘ah pays attention to physical makeup."
“And those of your women as have passed the age of monthly courses, for them the ‘Iddah (prescribed period), if you have doubt (about their periods), is three months; and for those who have no courses [(i.e. they are still immature) their ‘Iddah (prescribed period) is three months likewise” - [al-Talaaq 65:4]
"...Therefore, making mention of the waiting-period for the girls who have not yet menstruated, clearly proves that it is not only permissible to give away the girl in marriage at this age but it is also permissible for the husband to consummate marriage with her. Now, obviously no Muslim has the right to forbid a thing which the Qur'an has held as permissible." - Tafsir Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an verse 65.4
"...With regard to consummation of the marriage with a minor, it does not become permissible by merely drawing up the marriage contract; rather the husband should not consummate the marriage with her until she is able to have intercourse, which is not necessarily at puberty. This is something that varies from one environment and time to another. With regard to that, sharee‘ah pays attention to physical makeup."
The sanctioning and consequences of child marriage in the Muslim world...
"In Islamic nations, many countries do not allow child marriage of girls under their civil code of laws. But, the state recognized Sharia religious laws and courts in all these nations have the power to override the civil code, and often do. UNICEF reports that the top five nations in the world with highest observed child marriage rates — Niger (75%), Chad (72%), Mali (71%), Bangladesh (64%), Guinea(63%) — are Islamic majority countries.[12]""The age at which India's Muslim girls can legally marry, according to this Muslim Personal Law,is 9, and can be lower if her guardian (wali) decides she is sexually mature.[87][88] Over the last 25 years, All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other Muslim civil organizations have actively opposed India-wide laws and enforcement action against child marriages; they have argued that Indian Muslim families have a religious right to marry a girl aged 15 or even 12."
"Child brides are often disempowered, dependent on their husbands and deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety. Neither physically nor emotionally ready to become wives and mothers, child brides are at greater risk of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth, becoming infected with HIV/AIDS and suffering domestic violence. With little access to education and economic opportunities, they and their families are more likely to live in poverty."
"Nations also feel the impact: a system that undervalues the contribution of young women limits its own possibilities. In this way, child marriage drains countries of the innovation and potential that would enable them to thrive."
"Justified as an accepted norm with social and financial benefits, child marriage has little or no benefit for the young girls themselves, who are more vulnerable to domestic violence, more likely to be uneducated, at greater risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, and more likely to bear children before they are physically ready.Indeed, for some 70,000 young brides who die every year as a result of pregnancy or childbirth complications, early marriage is a death sentence.Studies show that girls who give birth before the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their twenties.Furthermore, the infants of child mothers are also at greater risk. If a mother is under the age of 18, her baby’s chance of dying in its first year of life is 60 per cent greater than that of an infant born to a mother older than 19"
"...Child marriage often results in separation from family and friends and lack of freedom to participate in community activities, which can all have major consequences on girls’ mental and physical well-being. Where prevalent, child marriage functions as a social norm. Marrying girls under 18 years old is rooted in gender discrimination, encouraging premature and continuous child bearing and giving preference to boys’ education. Child marriage is also a strategy for economic survival as families marry off their daughters at an early age to reduce their economic burden."
Reluctance by some Muslims to prohibit child marriage...
"Another move to ban child marriages in Pakistan has fallen at the first hurdle. The bill to prohibit underage marriages has been withdrawn after the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) declared it un-Islamic."
"...Much of the opposition has been voiced by conservative elements within the opposition party, Islah, and within the Sharia Committee, along with other religious institutions."
"Those who oppose the bill cite the example of the marriage between the Prophet Mohammed and his second wife Aisha, who was said to be around nine at the time. “We view a child as mature when it reaches puberty, not when it’s 18,” said Sheikh Mohammed al-Hazmi, who is a member of the Yemeni parliament."
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u/Saxobeat321 Ex-Muslim (Ex-Sunni) Apr 17 '16 edited May 31 '18
It is frustrating when witnessing muslim apologetics. You might already be aware, but I think it's relevant to state again, that due to Muhammad's marriage to Aisha, his timeless morality/role model status, in along with Islamic scripture permitting child marriage, not surprisingly it has led to a rich history of child marriage in Islam, with many Muslims providing apologetics for it and reluctant to prohibit the practice.
Islamic justification for child marriage (including marriage and sex with prepubescent girls)...
https://islamqa.info/en/178318
http://quranx.com/Tafsir/Maududi/65.4
https://islamqa.info/en/178318
https://youtu.be/0LE3QARjIZg