To start off, I'm not against early marriage. It's a convenient way to keep oneself fulfilled and continue their life too. But here, in the modern world; early marriages can be tricky.
I would first clarify that early marriages aren't necessarily torture or barbaric, they're better than date rapes and having 8 sexual partners before marriage, IMO. Also, by early marriages I mean not forcible marriages. I'm a girl, and have deeply looked into feminism (I warn you, I am not the modern day feminist. I am a neutral person; both men and women have rights, not just women or men.) I mean marriages with the full consent of the girl, given freedom to study and do a modest job if she likes. I'm not sure about everyone, but I read that women marry on average at the age of 25-26 in USA. And in Sweden, the age is around 30 for females. In Pakistan, the marriage is 17 (surprised much?), which is alright since girls round here are pretty useless anyway. However, the marriage age is rising with the trend of feminism sprawling over the nation, which is alright as long as a girl marrying young isn't harassed and teased. Who could be, quite possibly, me.
Yeah me. Nothing to laugh about. I mean, this is freaky. I am too immature. And marriage? For a yet-to-be-16 girl? Heh. Heh. Heh. I'm flattered.
Like I said, I have nothing against marrying young or old; it's a matter of finding Mr. Right. However, I have many things against the social norms and values which have nothing to do with religion, yet they are imposed on the women by women. (That's the wackiest thing yet. Women eat women. Wack. Wack.) And one of them is the brainwashing they do. Apparently, a girl's reason to live is to get married. Which is so totally absurd. And after marriage, to have kids. No, not kids, have 'sons'. And after that, to do a repeat telecast of these commands on the generations to come.
Religiously, it is not true. It is proved through two very eminent women in the history of Islam. Hazrat Khadija (R.A.), the Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) first wife, was widowed twice, and she lived a rather unmarried life for most of her life. At the age of forty, she finally met her ultimate marriage. If marriage was everything, she should've committed suicide. Even so, the Prophet's (P.B.U.H.) wife Hazrat Ayesha (R.A.) [because of whom, people have this concept that the Apostle, God Forbid, was paedophilic. I'll clarify this stupid accusation some other time] was widowed at the age of 25 (not sure, but something like that). She lived for another 48 years, unmarried. If marriage were the purpose of her life, she should've committed suicide. In fact, the other wives of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) remained unmarried for the rest of their life. [I'll explain why he married so many times some other time too] Point to be noted, she was a scholar just like other wives of the Prophet (P.B.U.H.), not only in Islam but also other subjects like medicine, Arab history, etc. About her knowledge, it is said that it outnumbered the knowledge of all the wives of the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and all of his companions, except few. About Hazrat Khadija (R.A.), the prophet said:
"The best women in this world are Hazrat Mary (Yes, Mary, mother of Jesus) and Hazrat Khadija."
Also, the women used to work. Hazrat Khadija (R.A.) was a merchant, Hazrat Zainab (R.A.) (another wife) used to work with leather while other women used to make cosmetics and sell them. Islam doesn't forbid anything like that. But, the Pakistani society does. How stupid.
And now, my dearest mother is dying to get me married after my GCSE examinations. Though I'm not really planning a very intensive career which would be blocked, I know that if something like that happens I would become like everyone other Pakistani women: useless. You see, once women marry and have sons, we are wastage. Which is so totally not what I want! I want to marry when my education is complete, my brain is ready for a practical life and my childishness, if not gone, is suppressible. Because if I marry now, I will not be able to do either of these, thanks to the society. The most my mother can do is search and look for a guy, but I am not marrying him.
Despite my arrogant self, there is every chance that my mom would force me. Eek! I better immigrate to some other country, quick. Before they ban Muslims officially. That way, I can live in peace and work for my country's wellbeing in a safer environment, instead in a bombing playground. Till then, take care!
LEGEND
(P.B.U.H) = peace be upon him
(R.A.) = Razit'Allah A'nhu, Arabic for 'May Allah be pleased with them'
Hazrat = like saying 'sir' or 'madam'; a title which offers respect.
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