What was the real age of Aisha when she got married to Muhammad (pbuh) ?
Answer
There are only two reliable sources of knowing Islam: Quran and Sunnah. Both were transmitted in a way that from the first generation till now there is complete agreement and uninterrupted continuity in the process. Hadith is a man-produced historical record which has its strengths and weaknesses. The onus of all that is contained in hadith is not on God’s religion.
Having said that, I prefer the historical record that says that Hazrat Aisha’s age at the time of her nikah was 18 and at the time of rukhsati 19. I prefer the information that says that she was ten years younger to her sister Asma who died at the age of hundred. Asma died in 72 hijrah. That means at the time of hijrat her age was 28 and Aisha’s age was 18.