Sometimes you have to scratch your head.

And then you cry.

A recent story out of Saudi Arabia makes you wonder if Shariah law needs to be internationally outlawed. Of course, the United Nations Council on Human Rights has said that one cannot even mention Shariah law when discussing human rights violations. Apparently this gives at least one Imam in Saudi Arabia the green light to speak out against attempts to stop the practice of marrying pre-pubescent girls.

In an article from Maktoob.com (“The Largest Arab on line community”) a news article quoted Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Teraifi, a well known Sheikh, Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, member of the Council of Senior Scholars, argued that “outlawing the marriage of young girls to elderly men will have a negative affect on Saudi society as it will lead to the mixing of sexes which is impermissible in Islam.”

If that rationale seems shocking, it should be.

What started the debate was the story of a twelve year old girl who's father sold her off to an eighty year old man for approximately $23,000.

Teraifi went on to say that age “has nothing to do with the validity of the marriage contract, but consummation should be only when the bride reaches the age of puberty.”

That may sound reasonable. After all, we know that young girls are ready for intercourse at the age of twelve or thirteen, right?

What the Sheikh isn't saying is that Islamic scholars disagree with him and tend to think that a pre-pubescent girl should also be able to be a full bride.

Tafsirs, or exegetical commentaries by Islamic scholars, appeal to the Quran itself for support:

“[65:4] As for the women who have reached menopause, if you have any doubts, their interim shall be three months. As for those who do not menstruate, and discover that they are pregnant, their interim ends upon giving birth. Anyone who reverences GOD, He makes everything easy for him.”

At first it may not seem clear as to the topic. Islamic scholars have made it clearer for us:

"Here, one should bear in mind the fact that according to the explanations given in the Quran the question of the waiting period arises in respect of the women with whom marriage may have been consummated, for there is no waiting-period in case divorce is pronounced before the consummation of marriage. (Al-Ahzab: 49). 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 Quran has held as permissible." -Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi: Tafhim al Quran. Commentary on Quran Chapter 65:4

“The `Iddah of Those in Menopause and Those Who do not have Menses Allah the Exalted clarifies the waiting period of the woman in menopause. And that is the one whose menstruation has stopped due to her older age. Her `Iddah is three months instead of the three monthly cycles for those who menstruate, which is based upon the Ayah in (Surat) Al-Baqarah. [see 2:228] The same for the young, who have not reached the years of menstruation. Their `Iddah is three months like those in menopause. This is the meaning of His saying.” -Tafsir 'ibn Kathir 65:4

"And [as for] those of your women who (read allā'ī or allā'i in both instances) no longer expect to menstruate, if you have any doubts, about their waiting period, their prescribed [waiting] period shall be three months, and [also for] those who have not yet menstruated, because of their young age, their period shall [also] be three months - both cases apply to other than those whose spouses have died; for these [latter] their period is prescribed in the verse: they shall wait by themselves for four months and ten [days] [Q. 2:234]. And those who are pregnant, their term, the conclusion of their prescribed [waiting] period if divorced or if their spouses be dead, shall be when they deliver. And whoever fears God, He will make matters ease for him, in this world and in the Hereafter." -Tafsir Al-Jalalayn - Quran 65.4

"(And for such of your women as despair of menstruation) because of old age, (if ye doubt) about their waiting period, (their period (of waiting) shall be three months) upon which another man asked: “O Messenger of Allah! "What about the waiting period of those who do not have menstruation because they are too young?” (along with those who have it not) because of young age, their waiting period is three months." Another man asked: “what is the waiting period for those women who are pregnant?” (And for those with child) i.e. those who are pregnant, (their period) their waiting period (shall be till they bring forth their burden) their child. (And whosoever keepeth his duty to Allah) and whoever fears Allah regarding what he commands him, (He maketh his course easy for him) He makes his matter easy; and it is also said this means: He will help him to worship Him well." Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs - Quran 65.4

"The interpretation of the verse "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". He said: The same applies to the 'idaah for girls who do not menstruate because they are too young, if their husbands divorce them after consummating the marriage with them." -Tafsir Al-Tabari, 14/142

Even Muhammed is recorded as clarifying the verse to mean that marriage and consummation with a pre-pubescent girl is acceptable:

"and those who never had menses, their prescribed period is three months before puberty, which indicates that giving her into marriage before puberty is permissible." Hadith in Arabic from Al-Islam.com

I realize the apologists will appeal to other passages and try to squirm their way out of the above Tafsirs. But the Grand Mufti of Saudi, himself an expert in the understanding and interpretation of the Quran, is supporting the Tafsirs. And they, as well, support him.

So, what are we to make of this news story?

For one thing, we have to wonder what kind of “holy book” winks and nods at pedophilia. In my holy book, the Bible, Christ was very firm about the sanctity of children:

Matthew 18:1-6

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."

A vast difference. Where Mohammed said little pre-pubescent girls could be married off to men, Jesus had some stern words for those who would harm one of the little ones.

Another thing we have to ask ourselves is whether or not our own country takes this issue seriously enough to stand with the 3 out of 5 Saudi's who want to place a ban on child brides.

Yes, the latest poll showed that most Saudi's want an end to this heinous practice. Unfortunately, Saudi's don't want a minimum age to be determined. So I'm not sure they're serious about it, either.

A minimum marriage age would be a very good start to curbing the problem. Maybe. Yemen outlawed it but it's been so entrenched in Yemen society that the practice of marrying young girls off is still a problem in the Yemen courts.

The affects of child marriage are numerous. Young girls, too young to be having children, risk death from childbirth complications. Beatings are not uncommon. And some young girls and women, wanting to escape the abuse or fearing abuse, practice self immolation- attempting suicide by setting themselves on fire.

Child brides may be found in many other societies. India, for example, has outlawed the practice. It must be noted, however, that in India it's not a practice for much older, grown men, to marry little girls. In India (and other countries, such as Ethopia) “child marriage” means that both parties are children. Not just the girl. And usually they remain “married” but separate until they're old enough (puberty or older) and the girl goes to live with the boy's family.

Last but not least, we have to ask the question: why is a country so bent on freedom and human rights determined to continue placating and working with countries in which little girls are sold like chattel?

Our lawmakers know all too well that this has been an ongoing problem in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and other countries. And yet, for expediency's sake, we continue being supportive of those countries. Is it for oil? Is a little girl worth a cheaper gallon of gas? If that's the case, we don't have any right, as a collective country, even thinking about calling Saudi and other Islamic countries out on their human rights offenses.

http://business.maktoob.com/20090000438870/Child_bride_ban_bad_for_Saudi...
http://business.maktoob.com/20090000441526/Saudi_public_backs_child_brid...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul-Azeez_ibn_Abdullaah_Aal_ash-Shaikh
http://www.islamicstudies.info/tafheem.php?sura=65
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/12667
http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=65&tid=54196
http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=65&tAyahN...
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/11/world/fg-childbride11
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UamNBfI5P8o
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/341/video.html
Bukhari, Book of Qualities of the Ansar, chapter: ‘The Holy Prophet’s marriage with Aisha, and his coming to Madina and the consummation of marriage with her’.