Discussions surrounding the marriages of the Prophet (With a special focus on his polygamy, the marriage age of ʿÂʾisha, and his marriage to Zaynab bint Jaḥsh)

This dissertation addresses the historical context of the Prophet's marriages. The study specifically focuses on the marriage age of ʿĀʾisha and the marriage of the Prophet to his paternal aunt's daughter, Zaynab bint Jaḥsh. The subject is examined in light of early Islamic history and tafsīr sources as well as contemporary literature, and the narrations that have been the source of controversy are evaluated within their historical context. The dissertation argues/demonstrates that the Prophet's polygamy was less a matter of personal preference and more a function of the socio-cultural, religious, and political conditions that emerged in Madīna following the Hijra. The study shows that these marriages served purposes such as strengthening inter-tribal relations, providing protection for widows and orphans, establishing social peace, and replacing the practices of the Jāhiliyya period with Islamic principles. Upon examining the narrations concerning ʿĀʾisha's age of marriage, it is observed that there was a three-year period between the marriage contract (nikāḥ) and the consummation (zifāf), which was linked to her young age and biological development. In this context, the conclusion is reached that ʿĀʾisha's marriage was considered normal within the customs and conditions of the period, and its transformation into a controversial topic today is related to the modern era's perception of marriage. The Prophet's marriage to Zaynab bint Jaḥsh occurred in accordance with the divine will stated in the Qur'an (al-Aḥzāb 33/37). Through this marriage, Islam aimed to eliminate the disadvantages in areas such as inheritance and marriage that arose from the established practice of adoption in the Jāhiliyya. However, this marriage has been misinterpreted by some circles and brought to the fore with baseless allegations. These narrations were transmitted into tafsīr and history sources without critical scrutiny, and subsequently used as arguments in the criticisms directed at Islam by Western polemicists.