Islam for Women

 I am reading this book very carefully and  taking notes. It is a wonderfully written colorful peace of research  and until page 110 I have not found any historical mistakes expect the one I’ll discuss today. History coming alive!

            I trust it would be a great basis for a new movie about the birth of Islam like the well known masterpiece “The Message” by Mustafa Akkad . Since the author is an accomplished screen writer I am especially worried about this. Once a MOVIE is made about (any) events it becomes the truth to most of the people.

            In the shoes of Mr. Kamran Pasha I would be really careful what to allow to be done in his name. In Islam we are accountable for our deeds and intentions, and one of the worst sins in  Islam are inventions into the faith.

            If there were not the ONE thing I oppose strongly since there is NO  REAL  evidence of the date of birth of Lady Aisha. Only one or two Hadiths, which were collected as late as 250-300 years after the death of the Prophet (pbuH). Until then they were mere traditions remembered orally. The Prophet himself discouraged writing down his every word because he feared they would be confused with the Quran. 

            Needles to tell my Muslim readers how Islam is portrayed on internet forums whenever the topic Islam comes up. The Prophet (pbuH) is routinely called “a pedophile caravan bundit”! 

            I have the strong suspicion that the author had to make a few changes, probably only one (since to book is powerful reading!) to his manuscript so that it would be accepted for publication. The one about Lady Aishas age.  It would explain hastily made changes in the text about it and the from it resulting unmatching dateline.  Muslim readers know what I am talking about, the opponents do not hesitate to use all means to tarnish the image of Islam. They are mostly powerful media owners and editors in chief in major publications. 

Why do I believe so?

             On page 9:   Aisha is claimed to be born in 613 A.D.

            On page 92:  is claimed that Aisha  “counted over 40 most powerful men not only of Mecca  but the Bedouin tribes…” at the age of tender age of 3 years?! 

            On page 96:  in  619 A.D  Aisha is claimed to be 6 years old almost 10 yrs after  the 1. Revelation” in 610 A.D. when driven out of Mecca into exile

            Page 105:   Her sister Asma is 16 yrs  old in 621 A.D  when boycott ends  meaning  that Aisha would be  STILL  6 yrs  old (after spending 3 years in exile, and not 9!).  Asma was 10 yrs her elder.  According to Adel Salahi the boycott lasted for 3 years “Muhammad, Man and Prophet” by M.A. Salahi, page 160  (not 2 yrs as in this book) .

            For other events in this novel there are surviving documents and scriptures to rely on and they are largely accepted as accurate, historically correct. The early Muslim community had many literate people who recorded events and in one of them is said that Aisha was a young girl when converting with her elder sister to Islam (among the first 80 Muslims to do so), in 610 A.D. That would make her at least 11 years old when returning home from exile from the desert outside of Mecca even if she was a newborn baby back then.  And if we believe this to be  correct,  since it was recorded in the lifetime of the Prophet (and not 250-300 years later!) then she was at least in her late teens when marrying the Prophet! 

Salaam for later commentary,

Mona