Peer-reviewed article
The Dialectics of Child Marriage and the Age of Maturity for Marriage: A Qur'anic Exegesis
Abd. Holik, Moch. Nurcholis ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed article examines child marriage through Qur'anic textual analysis, exploring how Islamic scripture defines maturity for marriage. The author argues that Qur'anic descriptions of child marriage reflect historical social conditions rather than religious endorsement. The research identifies three key Qur'anic phrases related to maturity stages and concludes that Islamic marriage maturity requires both physical and psychological development. The article supports ending child marriage practices as harmful to child development and rights.
Key points
- Child marriage as depicted in the Qur'an reflects prevailing social conditions and is not an endorsement of the practice
- Islamic marriage maturity is defined as the second stage of maturity involving both physical and psychological fulfillment
- The research identifies key Qur'anic phrases: 'balāghatul aṭfāl minkum al-hulūm', 'balāghun al-nikāh', and 'balāgh ashuddah'
- Child marriage practices are detrimental to developmental progress and infringe on children's rights
- The study used descriptive research methods examining Qur'anic verses and terminology
Limitations
This is a textual and exegetical analysis rather than empirical research on child marriage outcomes or prevalence. It cannot provide evidence about the effectiveness of interventions to reduce child marriage or the actual lived experiences and harms experienced by children in these situations.
Abstract
This article aims to analyze the gaps in the study of child marriage from a specific Qur'anic perspective. The primary focus of this study centers on the issue of the concept of marriage maturity in the Qur'an. The central problems addressed involve the practice of child marriage as portrayed in the Qur'anic context and the positioning of marriage maturity during the stage of maturity as per the Qur'an's perspective. To conduct this research, descriptive research methods were employed. This paper aims to delineate child marriage within the Qur'anic context and explore the stages of maturity by examining key phrases related to the concept of maturity found in various Qur'anic verses. The key phrases under consideration include "balāghatul aṭfāl minkum al-hulūm," "balāghun al-nikāh," and "balāgh ashuddah." The research findings reveal that, first, the practice of child marriage, as depicted in the Qur'an, serves as a reflection of the prevailing social conditions and is not to be construed as an endorsement of such practices; second, the maturity required for marriage is defined as the second stage of maturity, where both the physical and psychological aspects are fulfilled, even though individuals may not have reached a state of perfection. This research provides a foundation for arguments advocating the discontinuation of child marriage practices. Such practices are detrimental to developmental progress and infringe upon the rights of children.